Sankranti 2023: Telangana government starts helpline to ban synthetic manjha

To crack down on the sale of synthetic manjha during the festive season of Sankranti, the Telangana Forest Department will deploy six mobile parties with non-uniform staff and NGOs around such shops.

News

oi-Foziya Khan

Published: Thursday, January 12, 2023, 19:46 [IST]

HYDERABAD: To crack down on the sale of synthetic manjha during the festive season of Sankranti, the Telangana Forest Department will deploy six mobile parties with non-uniform staff and NGOs around such shops. The sale of synthetic manja is banned in Telangana and the forest department is leaving no stone unturned to enforce it. So far, 1391 kg of synthetic manja worth about Rs 28 lakh has been seized in Telangana.

A forest department official said manja made of nylon/synthetic thread and glass coated pose a serious threat to the safety of animals, humans and the environment. Over the years, glass-coated nylon strings have caused serious injuries and painful deaths to innumerable birds, animals and humans. Many human beings including small children have also suffered disabilities due to such manjha. Even many people have lost their lives.

The official said synthetic manja remains in the environment as a toxic pollutant on top of trees, electric wires and roofs for a long time. It also causes injuries and even deaths. With a little carelessness, this manjha easily cuts the fingers, hands and neck of the kite flyers.

The Telangana government, in exercise of its powers under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, imposed a complete ban on the purchase, storage, sale and use of nylon-thread in July 2017. It is also commonly called ‘Chinese Door’. Such cases may be reported to the Telangana State Forest Department on 24 x 7 helpline 1800-425-5364 or 040-23231440.