Blanket ban on Chinese manjha in Delhi

The Delhi government on Wednesday issued an advisory reminding people not to buy the sharp synthetic kite flying thread known as 'Chinese Manjha', to "protect human beings, cattle population, birds and prevent fatal accidents."

"There shall be complete ban on the sale, production, storage, supply, import and use of kite flying thread made out of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material, including the popularly known 'Chinese manja' and any other kite flying thread, that is sharp or made sharp, such as by being laced with glass, metal or any other sharp materials in the National Capital Territory of Delhi," read the order issued by Raj Niwas.

"Kite flying shall be permissible only with cotton thread, free of any sharp/metallic/glass components," the advisory said.

Chinese Manjha is notoriously sharp and known to slash flying birds and even cause fatal accidents to two-wheeler drivers. Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal had, in January, approved a Delhi government proposal to ban Chinese Manjha and similar lethal kite flying material.

"Kite flying shall be permissible only with a cotton thread, free from any sharp/metallic/glass components/adhesives/thread strengthening materials," the order further noted.

The order has been issued to prevent harm to human beings, cattle population, birds, soil and ecology, said an Environment Department official.

People can register complaints if they see the ban on Chinese Manjha being violated on the helpline numbers 23962825 (Divisional Commissioner), 9871963535 (Chief Wildlife Warden), 1266 (Commissioner, North and South Delhi MCD) and 155303 (Commissioner, East MCD) and 100.