Chandigarh Government Prohibits Glass-Coated Cotton String and All Other Forms of Manja, Following PETA India Appeal

For Immediate Release:

19 October 2022

Contact:

Hiraj Laljani; [email protected]

Farhat Ul Ain; [email protected]

Chandigarh – Following an appeal from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India to address bird and human deaths caused by manja, the Chandigarh Department of Environment has issued a notification under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, prohibiting the manufacture, import, transport, storage, sale, use, and disposal of all kinds of kite strings coated with glass or other harmful substances in addition to prohibiting the notorious nylon “Chinese” manja. The prohibition has been issued in order to prevent harm to humans, birds, and other animals as well as the environment. Per the notification, kites may be flown only with cotton thread free of any materials designed to increase its sharpness or strength.

A copy of the notification from the Department of Environment, Chandigarh administration, just received by PETA India is available upon request.

The notification underlines the polluting nature of manja and the harm it causes to humans and other animals in all its forms, including cotton threads coated with strengthening or abrasive materials such as glass and metal alloys. It cites the power failures that these strings cause, which affect up to 10,000 people from just one power line disruption, and notes that such threads are often ingested by animals like cows, leading to life-threatening complications. Notifications with similar directions have previously been issued by the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Tripura.

“We commend the Chandigarh government for addressing the dangers posed by kite strings reinforced with glass powder and metal in addition to nylon manja. This will go a long way towards safeguarding the environment and protecting the lives of humans and birds, including endangered vultures, who get lacerated by the sharp string,” says PETA India Advocacy Associate Farhat Ul Ain. “Most people would choose to use only plain cotton kite strings if they knew that doing so would spare fellow humans and other animals serious injuries and even death.”

Manja, in all its forms, puts humans, birds, other animals, and the environment at risk. Razor-sharp strings, often reinforced with glass powder and metal, cause human injuries and many senseless deaths every year. In August, a Zomato delivery agent died after dangerous manja snagged his bike’s tyre and hurled him into oncoming traffic. Earlier this year, a motorcyclist – despite wearing a balaclava, a helmet with a visor, and gloves – was unable to escape injury when manja coated with powdered glass flew across his visor. Also this year, a young man was severely injured after a glass powder–coated kite string cut his neck open. A 7-year-old boy had a narrow escape when he put his head out of the sunroof of his family’s car and got entangled in stray manja, suffering serious neck and eye injuries.

The harmful thread also has a disastrous impact on bird populations. Birds’ wings are often slashed or even cut off by manja. Their feet have also been cut off by these strings, and birds frequently escape with such wounds, meaning rescuers cannot help them.

PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way” – opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETAIndia.com or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

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