NGT notice to Centre on PETA plea for nationwide ban on manja

New Delhi, Aug 23 (PTI) Animal rights body PETA hassought an immediate nationwide ban on the use of glass-coated’manja’ (strings) for flying kites for causing death anddamage, leading the National Green Tribunal (NGT) today toseek the government’s response on the matter. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Swatanter Kumar issuednotice to Ministries of Environment, Forests and ClimateChange, Home Affairs, Commerce & Industry and Power and theAnimal Welfare Board of India who were made parties in thecase by the petitioner, People for the Ethical Treatment ofAnimals (PETA). The matter has been put up for further hearing onSeptember 6. In its petition, PETA contended that ‘manja’, sharpstring coated with glass and metals, posed a grave threat tohumans and animals as every year a number of deaths werecaused due to the deadly string. "To increase the chances of being able to cut as manykites as possible, kite-strings are made deliberately sharpwith churned glass, metals and other materials in order tomake them razor sharp to cut through other persons’ kitestrings. "These strings not only cut through other kite stringswhen in the air, but are also quite capable of cutting throughthe skin of animals and human beings, thereby severelyinjuring and even killing them," PETA alleged. The petition, filed through advocate Shadan Farasat, said’manja’ posed a huge threat when it comes into contact withlive overhead electric wires, leading to grid failure. "Due to ‘manja’ being coated with glass, metals and othersharp material, these strings act as good conductors ofelectricity, increasing the probability of detached manjastrings stuck in power lines, electrocuting kite flyers andpassers-by coming into contact with these strings," it said. PETA also said minor children were engaged by the cottageindustry for the manufacture of ‘manja’ which causedrespiratory problems among them as they inhaled harmfulsubstances which were extremely detrimental to their health. The plea has also referred to various orders, includingthe November 2015 order of the Allahabad High Court whichbanned the use of Chinese manja in the entire State of UttarPradesh and sought ban on "manufacture, import, sale and use"of these strings. The plea came in the backdrop of the tragic death of twochildren and a youth on the Independence Day after they wereentangled by these killer strings. PTI SKVARC