Govt bans Chinese magnetic twines for kite flying

Ban comes into force with immediate effect, traders can be held

Ahead of the Uttarayana (kite festival), the state Forest and Environment Department on Thursday issued a notification banning the use and sale of “killer” Chinese twines. The ban comes into effect across the state with immediate effect.

Principal Secretary (State Forest and Environment Department) S K Nanda said the ban has been imposed under the Forest and Environment Protection Act.

“The sale and use of Chinese twine by any person will amount to committing an offence. The trader will be arrested and his entire stock seized,” he added.

Nanda said the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) has been asked to launch a concerted state-wide campaign to create awareness among the people, particularly the young kite enthusiasts, against the use of Chinese twines during the impending kite festival.

The sale and use of plastic as well as magnetic thread tagged on kites has also been banned. “The use of Chinese or other magnetic thread poses a danger to the lives of general public and birds, as is evident from the recent incidents in Ahmedabad where a couple of youths died when they got electrocuted while attempting to catch hold of the thread hanging from the electric pole,” said an official.

“This thread can also prove fatal to birds during the coming festival,” the official added.



Nirav Bhagat