#Stranglehold - Stop the #KillingStrings & Enforce #ManjaBan
#Stranglehold - Stop the #KillingStrings & Enforce #ManjaBan
The Issue
#ManjaKills Humans, not just birds and animals. Central and State governments have acknowledged this menace and have banned Synthetic Manja, yet its sale and use continues rampant and unchecked. How many more innocents will die?
On Wednesday June 23rd, Mr. Mallikarjun KH, a software entrepreneur almost died while riding his scooter in the busy Adugodi area , when he hit a sharp kite Manja thread that was stretched across the road, resulting in grievous injuries to his neck and hands. Thankfully, he was able to receive immediate medical attention – but we have seen so many vehicles and its unwary passengers being caught and spun against a tight manja thread. There were multiple incidents of two-wheeler accidents where riders were slashed by dangling manja thread and sustained serious injuries.
On February 12, 2018, a woman in Pune died when her neck was slit by a sharp string , a month after a 32 year old Jaipur man also lost his life. Schools will reopen soon - it is horrifying to think of innocent children being injured or dying due to this lack of enforcement. Manja has also posed a huge threat when it comes into contact with live overhead electric wires, leading to kite fliers' and others' electrocution as well as grid failure.
How many rescuers will break their necks and limbs climbing trees and buildings to rescue trapped, terrified birds. This year, a Wildlife Rescuer Sridhar fell from a height of 30ft while rescuing two birds trapped in Manja and had to spend 6 months post surgery and rehabilitation before he could walk again.
Let’s also take a moment to think about the thousands of birds who sustain grievous injuries and are entangled in manja thread, dangling in a slow agonising death across Bengaluru every day. No living thing needs to suffer such torture – just imagine if a thousand people were cut by manja thread and were hanging from trees throughout Karnataka – would we not take this issue more seriously? The government has done the right thing by sternly banning sales & possession of manja , an unbreakable, non degradable, nylon - and yet the stranglehold continues. It's time for us to ensure that the actual enforcement matches up to the government's orders.
Timeline on Government Action :
09/09/2014 Additional Secretary of MoEFCC (Hem Pande) issued D.O.17/16/2014-AWD to all States to ensure that “pucca thread made of plastic or any such synthetic material of Chinese make or other toxic materials like iron powder, glass powder etc. is not used in kite flying.”
24/06/2016 Karnataka Forest Ecology and Environment Secretariat issued an order (FEE 03 FWL, Bengaluru) imposing a ban on procuring, stocking, sale and use of nylon thread and other synthetic (non biodegradable) threads coated with glass or other harmful substances. The ban is enforceable by Forest Officers, Officers in Forest and Horticulture wing of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pallike (BBMP) and Environmental Officers of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.
11/07/2017 National Green Tribunal (NGT) passes a judgement for orders 384/2016 and 442/2016 - “There shall be total ban on the manja or thread for kite flying which is made of nylon or any synthetic material and/or coated with synthetic substance and is non-biodegradable. All the Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs are directed to enforce the prohibition of manufacture and use of synthetic manja/nylon thread for kite flying throughout their state / territories. The respondents are directed to ban import of any synthetic manja/nylon thread or similar thread coated with synthetic substances, in any part of the country”
12/01/2017 Supreme court - upheld the NGT ban on Synthetic Manja upon legal challenges from Manja manufacturers.
03/03/2020 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) requested all State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) to provide the status of the compliance of the directions communicated to Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs, SPCBs and PCCs by the Hon'ble NGT.
28/05/2020 To demonstrate compliance to the NGT directive, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) replied “There are no units manufacturing thread made of nylon, synthetic material and/or the coated with synthetic substances which is non-biodegradable for kite flying” Even though the KSPCB has replied to the CPCB that there are no units in Karnataka which manufacture nylon/synthetic thread for kite flying, nylon manja thread is openly available in many local shops throughout Karnataka and can be purchased freely without any fear of consequences for violating the NGT order or fear of any action by the Government. This #Stranglehold needs to STOP RIGHT NOW and we need your support. Sign our petition to have Karnataka Government enforce the NGT nylon manja ban strictly in Karnataka state.
The ASK
To save lives and suffering, we require the government to issue the following directives:
o Govt of Karnataka must visibly enforce this ban as a criminal offense (with imprisonment and fine) to sell nylon thread/synthetic thread/thread coated with synthetic substances for kite-flying. Other states have done so, whereas not a single jail term is recorded in Karnataka as per our knowledge. In Telengana, anyone who sells or stores the hazardous threads would receive punishment of up to five years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. If any humans or birds are harmed due to the use of Chinese Manja, a punishment of three to five years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000 would be imposed on perpetrators of the offence. Similar punishments should be strictly imposed by Govt of Karnataka for manufacturing, selling and transporting synthetic manja threads.
o Urgently set up Joint Action Stranglehold Task Force of Forests, Police, BBMP & Pollution Board, BESCOM etc to collectively and strongly enforce this ban, and save lives. Canvas for on ground volunteers and whistle-blowers. A media blast and press conference is essential.
o GoK to institute Compensation mechanism for those affected by manja accidents- children, vehicle drivers, kite flyers and others affected whether its injury, amputation or death. Evaluate insurance for rescuers
o Karnataka State Police & other stakeholders to be informed, trained on this issue and assertively enforce and partner to control this cruel practice. Public needs to be educated too but also government bodies as Many in the government did not know there was an existing tough law.
o A Manja Helpline as in other states to report offences.
o Make an example of offending stores and flyers. Enforce publically a punishable offence (with fine) to buy, possess or use nylon thread/synthetic thread/thread coated with synthetic substances for kite-flying
o BBMP Officers mandated to investigate, check & report compliance and cancel licenses of violating shops immediately. BBMP should not issue any shop license to kite shops without KSPCB and KAWB approval.
o Publish the accredited list of kite shops that have been certified and checked to sell biodegradable and certified cotton manja.
o We support kite flying as a culture and hobby - but are against synthetic killer Manja. We request GoK to set up 2-3 Safe Kite flying areas in each district, monitored by an enforcement marshal.
We have all respectfully waited for long enough. Orders have come from the Environment Ministry, Pollution Control, and most recently NGT, and supported by the Supreme Court - there can be no other reason except the implied indifference for human and animal life , loss of revenue with grid failures that is allowing this status quo to continue. Other states are far more effective.
We categorically state that we support the ancient culture of kite flying , but given the tragic losses we see, we insist on responsible kite flying. if the Government of Karnataka resorts to strong action & enforcement, only then, will we be able to stop the senseless killing and maiming of innocent human and animal victims. Surely it's not too much to ask?
Synthetic Nylon Manja (Chinese Manja, Dor, Deal) is a pollutant of the worst kind – cheap, freely available and lethal to humans and animals. Used even once, it lingers in the environment and is extremely hard to clean and keeps killing for hundreds of years. We need your support to get rid of this killer menace from Karnataka. Together let us lift this cruel, killer stranglehold #StopManja2SaveLives and keep Namma Karnataka safe.
Sign our petition to make our state accountable for keeping Karnataka safe from the killer manja menace #StopManja2SaveLives
(Petitioners to include: PCCF, Animal Husbandry Minister, Minister for Forests, Sports Minister, DGP Police, Chief Secretary GoK , Karnataka Pollution Board , Karnataka Power Corporation, BESCOM, DCF Bengaluru Urban-Karnataka Forest Department, Member Secretary,KAWB, DCF-BBMP Forest Cell, Director, BBMP - Horticulture and BBMP- Forests )
Useful Links
- https://www.news18.com/news/india/supreme-court-refuses-to-lift-ngt-ban-on-manja-threads-1335366.html
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/SC-refuses-to-lift-NGT-ban-on-manja-threads/article17034304.ece
- https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2020/07/01/cal-hc-strictly-implement-the-ban-on-use-of-chinese-nylon-plastic-manjha-or-thread-for-kite-flying-in-compliance-with-notification-issued-by-west-bengal-government/
- NGT judgement - http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/manjha%20for%20kite%20flying%20non%20biodegradable%20NGT%20Judgement.pdf
- Forest Ecology and Environment Secretariat Letter - https://www.aranya.gov.in/downloads/Ban%20On%20materials%20For%20Kite%20Flying.pdf
- NGT execution action for Manjha enforcement (with KSPCB’s response) - https://greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/news_updates/Report%20by%20CPCB%20in%20E.A.%20No.%2006%20of%202020%20in%20OA%20No.%20384%20of%202016%20(Khalid%20Ashraf%20Vs.%20Union%20of%20India).pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTAi-LwEMLw
https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-newspaper/doctors-treat-throat-of-man-injured-by-chinese-manja/story-jyRC1p2esbubnY1kiQIsZN.htm - TOI https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/govt-bans-chinese-manja-used-to-fly-kites/articleshow/53311070.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst&from=mdr
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/banned-killer-manja-takes-one-more-life-in-pune/story-8rwy7Zb81dHH4A8sWF4rIO.html
https://pune365.com/pulse-fatal-nylon-kite-string-wounds-city-next/ - https://www.eastmojo.com/news/2018/11/10/slashed-by-kite-manja-manipur-student-dies-in-bengaluru/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajasthan-6-year-old-boy-dies-glass-coated-kite-string-slits-throat-1430533-2019-01-14
https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/Mumbai--29-year-old-dies-in-an-accident-while-dodging-a-kite-manja-20258179 - https://www.news18.com/news/india/chinese-manja-slits-throat-of-delhi-biker-2086841.html
- https://english.newstracklive.com/news/delhi-akshardhaam-temple-chinese-manjha-cut-child-neck-mc23-nu-1028992-1.html
- https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/pune/despite-ban-chinese-manja-injures-youth-45228
- https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/civic-issues/article/gujarat-chinese-manja-wreaks-havoc-on-uttarayan-hospitals-see-spike-in-injuries/540997
- https://nagpuroranges.com/5-injured-in-the-city-with-deadly-manja-on-makar-sankranti/
- https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/may/26/woman-on-bike-injured-by-banned-manja-thread-2147998.html
- https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/chinese-manja-nearly-kills-woman-in-richmond-town/articleshow/76453458.cms
- https://www.onlymyhealth.com/chinese-kite-manjha-injured-boy-underwent-lip-surgery-1598961183
- https://marathi.abplive.com/news/maharashtra/a-17-year-old-boy-was-seriously-injured-in-a-nylon-manja-accident-in-nagpur-844430
- https://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/increase-in-number-of-injuries-due-to-manja-kite-string/
- https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2021/1/14/Wave-of-anger-in-city-over-death-of-youth-due-to-Chinese-manja.html
- https://english.lokmat.com/nagpur/youths-throat-slit-due-to-nylon-manja-1/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-man-injured-after-banned-chinese-manja-slits-neck-7375942/
25,630
The Issue
#ManjaKills Humans, not just birds and animals. Central and State governments have acknowledged this menace and have banned Synthetic Manja, yet its sale and use continues rampant and unchecked. How many more innocents will die?
On Wednesday June 23rd, Mr. Mallikarjun KH, a software entrepreneur almost died while riding his scooter in the busy Adugodi area , when he hit a sharp kite Manja thread that was stretched across the road, resulting in grievous injuries to his neck and hands. Thankfully, he was able to receive immediate medical attention – but we have seen so many vehicles and its unwary passengers being caught and spun against a tight manja thread. There were multiple incidents of two-wheeler accidents where riders were slashed by dangling manja thread and sustained serious injuries.
On February 12, 2018, a woman in Pune died when her neck was slit by a sharp string , a month after a 32 year old Jaipur man also lost his life. Schools will reopen soon - it is horrifying to think of innocent children being injured or dying due to this lack of enforcement. Manja has also posed a huge threat when it comes into contact with live overhead electric wires, leading to kite fliers' and others' electrocution as well as grid failure.
How many rescuers will break their necks and limbs climbing trees and buildings to rescue trapped, terrified birds. This year, a Wildlife Rescuer Sridhar fell from a height of 30ft while rescuing two birds trapped in Manja and had to spend 6 months post surgery and rehabilitation before he could walk again.
Let’s also take a moment to think about the thousands of birds who sustain grievous injuries and are entangled in manja thread, dangling in a slow agonising death across Bengaluru every day. No living thing needs to suffer such torture – just imagine if a thousand people were cut by manja thread and were hanging from trees throughout Karnataka – would we not take this issue more seriously? The government has done the right thing by sternly banning sales & possession of manja , an unbreakable, non degradable, nylon - and yet the stranglehold continues. It's time for us to ensure that the actual enforcement matches up to the government's orders.
Timeline on Government Action :
09/09/2014 Additional Secretary of MoEFCC (Hem Pande) issued D.O.17/16/2014-AWD to all States to ensure that “pucca thread made of plastic or any such synthetic material of Chinese make or other toxic materials like iron powder, glass powder etc. is not used in kite flying.”
24/06/2016 Karnataka Forest Ecology and Environment Secretariat issued an order (FEE 03 FWL, Bengaluru) imposing a ban on procuring, stocking, sale and use of nylon thread and other synthetic (non biodegradable) threads coated with glass or other harmful substances. The ban is enforceable by Forest Officers, Officers in Forest and Horticulture wing of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pallike (BBMP) and Environmental Officers of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.
11/07/2017 National Green Tribunal (NGT) passes a judgement for orders 384/2016 and 442/2016 - “There shall be total ban on the manja or thread for kite flying which is made of nylon or any synthetic material and/or coated with synthetic substance and is non-biodegradable. All the Chief Secretaries of all the States/UTs are directed to enforce the prohibition of manufacture and use of synthetic manja/nylon thread for kite flying throughout their state / territories. The respondents are directed to ban import of any synthetic manja/nylon thread or similar thread coated with synthetic substances, in any part of the country”
12/01/2017 Supreme court - upheld the NGT ban on Synthetic Manja upon legal challenges from Manja manufacturers.
03/03/2020 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) requested all State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/PCCs) to provide the status of the compliance of the directions communicated to Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs, SPCBs and PCCs by the Hon'ble NGT.
28/05/2020 To demonstrate compliance to the NGT directive, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) replied “There are no units manufacturing thread made of nylon, synthetic material and/or the coated with synthetic substances which is non-biodegradable for kite flying” Even though the KSPCB has replied to the CPCB that there are no units in Karnataka which manufacture nylon/synthetic thread for kite flying, nylon manja thread is openly available in many local shops throughout Karnataka and can be purchased freely without any fear of consequences for violating the NGT order or fear of any action by the Government. This #Stranglehold needs to STOP RIGHT NOW and we need your support. Sign our petition to have Karnataka Government enforce the NGT nylon manja ban strictly in Karnataka state.
The ASK
To save lives and suffering, we require the government to issue the following directives:
o Govt of Karnataka must visibly enforce this ban as a criminal offense (with imprisonment and fine) to sell nylon thread/synthetic thread/thread coated with synthetic substances for kite-flying. Other states have done so, whereas not a single jail term is recorded in Karnataka as per our knowledge. In Telengana, anyone who sells or stores the hazardous threads would receive punishment of up to five years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. If any humans or birds are harmed due to the use of Chinese Manja, a punishment of three to five years imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000 would be imposed on perpetrators of the offence. Similar punishments should be strictly imposed by Govt of Karnataka for manufacturing, selling and transporting synthetic manja threads.
o Urgently set up Joint Action Stranglehold Task Force of Forests, Police, BBMP & Pollution Board, BESCOM etc to collectively and strongly enforce this ban, and save lives. Canvas for on ground volunteers and whistle-blowers. A media blast and press conference is essential.
o GoK to institute Compensation mechanism for those affected by manja accidents- children, vehicle drivers, kite flyers and others affected whether its injury, amputation or death. Evaluate insurance for rescuers
o Karnataka State Police & other stakeholders to be informed, trained on this issue and assertively enforce and partner to control this cruel practice. Public needs to be educated too but also government bodies as Many in the government did not know there was an existing tough law.
o A Manja Helpline as in other states to report offences.
o Make an example of offending stores and flyers. Enforce publically a punishable offence (with fine) to buy, possess or use nylon thread/synthetic thread/thread coated with synthetic substances for kite-flying
o BBMP Officers mandated to investigate, check & report compliance and cancel licenses of violating shops immediately. BBMP should not issue any shop license to kite shops without KSPCB and KAWB approval.
o Publish the accredited list of kite shops that have been certified and checked to sell biodegradable and certified cotton manja.
o We support kite flying as a culture and hobby - but are against synthetic killer Manja. We request GoK to set up 2-3 Safe Kite flying areas in each district, monitored by an enforcement marshal.
We have all respectfully waited for long enough. Orders have come from the Environment Ministry, Pollution Control, and most recently NGT, and supported by the Supreme Court - there can be no other reason except the implied indifference for human and animal life , loss of revenue with grid failures that is allowing this status quo to continue. Other states are far more effective.
We categorically state that we support the ancient culture of kite flying , but given the tragic losses we see, we insist on responsible kite flying. if the Government of Karnataka resorts to strong action & enforcement, only then, will we be able to stop the senseless killing and maiming of innocent human and animal victims. Surely it's not too much to ask?
Synthetic Nylon Manja (Chinese Manja, Dor, Deal) is a pollutant of the worst kind – cheap, freely available and lethal to humans and animals. Used even once, it lingers in the environment and is extremely hard to clean and keeps killing for hundreds of years. We need your support to get rid of this killer menace from Karnataka. Together let us lift this cruel, killer stranglehold #StopManja2SaveLives and keep Namma Karnataka safe.
Sign our petition to make our state accountable for keeping Karnataka safe from the killer manja menace #StopManja2SaveLives
(Petitioners to include: PCCF, Animal Husbandry Minister, Minister for Forests, Sports Minister, DGP Police, Chief Secretary GoK , Karnataka Pollution Board , Karnataka Power Corporation, BESCOM, DCF Bengaluru Urban-Karnataka Forest Department, Member Secretary,KAWB, DCF-BBMP Forest Cell, Director, BBMP - Horticulture and BBMP- Forests )
Useful Links
- https://www.news18.com/news/india/supreme-court-refuses-to-lift-ngt-ban-on-manja-threads-1335366.html
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/SC-refuses-to-lift-NGT-ban-on-manja-threads/article17034304.ece
- https://www.scconline.com/blog/post/2020/07/01/cal-hc-strictly-implement-the-ban-on-use-of-chinese-nylon-plastic-manjha-or-thread-for-kite-flying-in-compliance-with-notification-issued-by-west-bengal-government/
- NGT judgement - http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/manjha%20for%20kite%20flying%20non%20biodegradable%20NGT%20Judgement.pdf
- Forest Ecology and Environment Secretariat Letter - https://www.aranya.gov.in/downloads/Ban%20On%20materials%20For%20Kite%20Flying.pdf
- NGT execution action for Manjha enforcement (with KSPCB’s response) - https://greentribunal.gov.in/sites/default/files/news_updates/Report%20by%20CPCB%20in%20E.A.%20No.%2006%20of%202020%20in%20OA%20No.%20384%20of%202016%20(Khalid%20Ashraf%20Vs.%20Union%20of%20India).pdf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTAi-LwEMLw
https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-newspaper/doctors-treat-throat-of-man-injured-by-chinese-manja/story-jyRC1p2esbubnY1kiQIsZN.htm - TOI https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/govt-bans-chinese-manja-used-to-fly-kites/articleshow/53311070.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst&from=mdr
- https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/banned-killer-manja-takes-one-more-life-in-pune/story-8rwy7Zb81dHH4A8sWF4rIO.html
https://pune365.com/pulse-fatal-nylon-kite-string-wounds-city-next/ - https://www.eastmojo.com/news/2018/11/10/slashed-by-kite-manja-manipur-student-dies-in-bengaluru/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/rajasthan-6-year-old-boy-dies-glass-coated-kite-string-slits-throat-1430533-2019-01-14
https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/Mumbai--29-year-old-dies-in-an-accident-while-dodging-a-kite-manja-20258179 - https://www.news18.com/news/india/chinese-manja-slits-throat-of-delhi-biker-2086841.html
- https://english.newstracklive.com/news/delhi-akshardhaam-temple-chinese-manjha-cut-child-neck-mc23-nu-1028992-1.html
- https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/pune/despite-ban-chinese-manja-injures-youth-45228
- https://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/civic-issues/article/gujarat-chinese-manja-wreaks-havoc-on-uttarayan-hospitals-see-spike-in-injuries/540997
- https://nagpuroranges.com/5-injured-in-the-city-with-deadly-manja-on-makar-sankranti/
- https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/may/26/woman-on-bike-injured-by-banned-manja-thread-2147998.html
- https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/chinese-manja-nearly-kills-woman-in-richmond-town/articleshow/76453458.cms
- https://www.onlymyhealth.com/chinese-kite-manjha-injured-boy-underwent-lip-surgery-1598961183
- https://marathi.abplive.com/news/maharashtra/a-17-year-old-boy-was-seriously-injured-in-a-nylon-manja-accident-in-nagpur-844430
- https://allaboutbelgaum.com/news/increase-in-number-of-injuries-due-to-manja-kite-string/
- https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2021/1/14/Wave-of-anger-in-city-over-death-of-youth-due-to-Chinese-manja.html
- https://english.lokmat.com/nagpur/youths-throat-slit-due-to-nylon-manja-1/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-man-injured-after-banned-chinese-manja-slits-neck-7375942/
25,630
The Decision Makers
Petition updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 26 June 2021