Ensuring safe Basant Panchami: Punjab bans sale, purchase of Chinese strings

Punjab government on Monday ordered ban on the sale, storage and purchase of China strings made of synthetic material for kite flying, as it is dangerous to human life and also to the birds.

Keeping in view the forthcoming Basant Panchami festival, when as a custom the people of Punjab fly kites, the state government on Monday ordered ban on the sale, storage and purchase of China strings made of synthetic material for kite flying, as it is dangerous to human life and also to the birds.

(HT file photo)

The government has ordered seizure of the banned material and asked the director general of police to issue directions to all the station house officers to conduct raids in their concerned areas.

Environment minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that the orders have been issued in accordance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court.

The Deputy Commissioners have also been directed to inform the general public about the threat posed by the Chinese strings, so that they can educate the children not to use it. The state department of science, technology and environment, has passed orders for ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, supply, import and use of kite flying thread made out of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material including the popularly known as “China dor”.

The executive magistrates in the state, officials of the wildlife department, municipal bodies and the Punjab Pollution Control Board have been authorised to ensure implementation of the official directions, informed Hayer adding that the National Green Tribunal had also directed the state governments in 2017 to ban Chinese strings.