Nagpur: Beware of kite lovers as well as vendors. If you are found using or selling the sharp nylon strings called ‘Manja’ during the coming ‘Sankranti’ festival, be prepared to spend five years in jail as the use and sell of ‘deadly’ stuff has been banned by Maharashtra Government. The Maharashtra Government banned the sale and use of nylon ‘manja’ which injures and kill birds as well as people.
The circular under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 was issued after a petition seeking a ban on ‘manja’ was filed by a citizen in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court. The Nagpur-based organisation People for Animals are a party in the matter.
The use of nylon manja threads often results in flash over on power lines and substations, causing power interruptions to consumers, straining and damaging electrical assets and causing accidents, injuries and loss of life as well as damage to environment and therefore, such threads are not to be used for kite-flying.
The District Administration has appealed the citizens as well as vendors and traders not to use or sell the banned nylon manja for kite flying. If anybody is found using or selling the banned stuff, he or she will be booked under Section 15 of Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and could face 5-year rigorous imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1 lakh or both, said a press release issued by Additional District Magistrate, Nagpur.
