Curb use of Chinese manja, demands MLA Raja Singh Lodh

Hyderabad: With just a month to go for Sankranti, Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh Lodh submitted a memorandum to the Hyderabad District Collector demanding ban on Chinese manja and other synthetic non-biodegradable materials used during the festivities across the city.

In his memorandum, the MLA stated that since the children and other enthusiasts celebrate the kite flying in the month of January during the Sankranti festivities, the authorities must be prepared to curb the use of imported Chinese manja.

The synthetic thread used to fly kites would pose danger to birds. "At least three to five bird deaths are reported every day due to the use of this manja. The forest cell gets at least 45 distress calls to rescue birds daily, of which 80% is because of Chinese manja," he rued.

He also pointed out that for the past five years, the use of Chinese manja has grown in huge proportions. It costs less than other threads and is light weight. While cotton manja, which was earlier used to fly kites, is made of finely powdered glass, Chinese manja uses metallic powder like iron or other metal dust besides glass powder for coating, making it more fatal.

The MLA requested the Collector to look into the matter and direct the officials concerned to implement the ban on glass coated threads or Chinese Manja in view of large-scale kite flying in the city on the occasion of Sankranti kite fest.