“Make this a happy Sankranti for humans and birds too. Say no to synthetic/glass-coated manja banned by the National Green Tribunal and Government of Telangana,” is the message plastered on almost all the shops and streets that thrive on kite and manja business in the city.
This has taken the fight against the menace of synthetic manja to a different level. Two years after the National Green Tribunal slapped a ban on the production, sale and use of synthetic thread coated with glass known as Chinese manja, the Telangana government has been planning a multi-pronged approach to stop the use of the thread.
The thread that does not snap easily has been linked to multiple accidents as well as bird kills. “It is not just the Forest Department, but the Police Department and the district administration that will be roped in to help stop the sale and use of Chinese manja,” said A. Shankaran, Officer on Special Duty (Wildlife), when asked about the impact of the ban. “There is fear among the sellers. Of course there are some unscrupulous traders who are still sell the thread,” said Mr. Shankaran. “We don’t sell the thread, but there is a great demand for it”, “It is cheap and very strong”, “It takes more time to make the manja with thread and it costs a lot”, were some of the reactions by traders in the kite and manja market in the city.
“Yes there have been raids, but only the stock has been seized. We are a very strong group. Picking up people is not easy as everyone is involved. Somebody would have lent the money, someone would have sold the goods on credit and everyone would be affected if the businessman is stopped,” says a kite trader, not willing to go on record. He also lists out names of shops that have been recently raided and the goods confiscated.
For reporting the sale and and use of synthetic/glass-coated manja and to help injured birds, the Forest Department has set up a toll-free helpline: 1800-4255-364 or 040-23231440.