In Ahmedabad, Uttarayan 2011 claimed eight lives, one of which was a four-year old girl whose throat was slit with Chinese dori despite a 2009 ban (never put into practice) on its use for kite-flying. Nearly 300 more humans were injured. But no one counted how many (thousands) birds got injured or died. Similarly, in Jaipur 250 kite flying accidents occurred in 2011 – 30 of which were children. 81 birds were rescued whereas 16 died due to manja injuries.
Chinese manja used by millions for kite fighting has resulted in hundreds of human and bird death. In addition, it is non-biodegradable, that is, it does not get decomposed and sustains in environment for a long time. Even after the festivities are over, lumps of these dangerous threads (manja) remain, effectively entangling and killing innocent birds.
These kites are tied to the sky using a thread called manja. Courtesy the rising competitive spirit, this manja is turning more and more lethal in a drive to win. Chinese manja is made of metallic/nylon yarn with an abrasive coat of crushed glass gummed on to it making it razor sharp and non-biodegradable.
What started as a re-creational activity ages back evolved into a sport called kite fighting. These fighter kites compete voraciously to cut the fine threads of the other in a rampage to win. Indians celebrate Makar Sankranti (harvest festival), Republic Day, Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, every year at various times throughout the length and breadth of the country by flying of the colorful kites (patang).
Over the last 2-3 years, many states have unsuccessfully tried to ban the use of this deadly Chinese manja. In 2009-10 it was banned in cities like Chennai and Mumbai. In 2011 Manja for flying kites was banned in Ludhiana, Jagraon and Khanna rural districts of Punjab. However, such sporadic and regional action has not lead to any positive results so far and both bird and human lives continue to remain in danger.
It’s about time, our Environment and Forest Ministry headed by Mr. Veerappa Moily declares a strict nation-wide ban on the use and sell of Chinese manja and end this massacre of bird, human life and the environment.
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