Andhra Pradesh has banned Chinese ‘manja’, the sharp string used to fly kites on different festival occasions.
AP govt’s action was a result of the letter written by the union Ministry of environment about the threat posed by ‘manja’ to birds. The department of environment, forests, science and Technology, has issued an order to ban procuring, stocking and sale of ‘manja’ or the Chinese string, which is made of nylon and coated with finely crushed glass.
The govt. also banned other synthetic threads coated with glass and other harmful substances which are likely to cause injury to animals, birds and humans. All the departments have been directed to spread the news among people not to use Manja.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has played a key role in procuring a ban on ‘manja’. In a statement, PETA said that ‘manja’ kills thousands of birds including endangered, every year.
Several states including Telangana have already banned ‘manja’.