Nagpur: Come December, January and kites start swaying in the blue sky. Manja business is also at its peak during this season. Despite the High Court and National Green Tribunal has banned the plastic coated manja yet some of the shopkeepers are selling the nylon manja in the city. Though there are orders that the shopkeepers should sell plain thread yet in Itwari, Gandhibag and others places they are selling the nylon manja to people known to them, it is learnt.
It may be recalled that police with the help of NOGs and Nagpur Municipal Corporation had taken action against the shopkeepers soon after the month of September. This year no such action seems to be taken though the manja has already reached the market. Due to this manja many two wheeler riders were injured and some lost their lives. It is also posing a danger to the animals and birds besides the environment. Indian Fauna Welfare Board, Honorary Animal Welfare Officer Karishma Gilani informed that Green Tribunal has banned Nylon manja and they have also won the case in the high court regarding ban on this manja. About two years back for the first time in the State a FIR was registered in Nagpur. As per the Environment Protection Act 1985, the person selling nylon Manja will be jailed for five and be fined Rs 1 lakh. Gilani said that soon a memorandum will be handed over to Commissioner of police demanding action against sale of nylon manja.
Veterinary Doctor and Ornithologist Dr Bahar Baviskar said that after the ban on nylon manja the per centage of injured birds has gone down by 4 to 5 per cent. Every year nearly 30 to 40 birds die because of nylon manja.
Effort were made to contact Dr Pradeep Dasarway of NMC Health Department but it was informed that he is in the meeting.
