Mumbai: Glass coated manjas were banned by the Mumbai police for the festival Makar Sankranti in keeping in mind the injuries caused by it by using the prohibitory order not using the thread on Thursday.
According to Hindustan Times, The order says as “Whereas during the kite flying festival, injury is caused to the people and the birds on account of pucca thread made out of plastic or similar such synthetic material commonly known as nylon manja. These injuries many a times turn out to be fatal causing death of people and birds. It is therefore desirable to protect the people and birds from the fatal effects of the kite flying thread made out of nylon or plastic or synthetic thread (sic).”
“These threads continue to cause problems such as blockages of sewers, drainage lines, natural water ways such as rivers, streams, adversely effects on soil and waterways and cattle population cause by cutting or falling of such threads, suffocation of cows and other animals who ingest food items along with such nylon/plastic material. The impact of such plastic materials used for making thread is many and varied (sic).” reads the order.
Meet Ashar, emergency response co-ordinator for PETA India said “We appreciate the police commissioner’s initiative of having the stern approach to illegal nationwide ban of thread. Animal Welfare officers will work with the police to ensure its implementation.”
Police said, Under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), use, sale and storage of such threads for a period of 30 days beginning from Thursday will attract an offence.