NGT takes up PETA’s manjha ban plea, issues notice to Centre

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal( NGT) on Tuesday sought a response from the Union government on a plea filed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), highlighting the dangers associated with the use of glass-coated ‘manjha’ while flying kites, and seeking an immediate ban on it across India.

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A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued a notice to the Union ministries of environment, forests and climate change, home affairs, commerce & industry, power and the animal welfare board of India, who were made parties in the case by the petitioner.

The matter has been put up for further hearing on September 6.

In its petition, PETA said ‘manjha’ posed a grave threat to humans and animals as every year a number of deaths were caused due to the deadly string.

“To increase the chances of being able to cut as many kites as possible, kite-strings are made deliberately sharp with churned glass, metals and other materials in order to make them razor sharp to cut through the other persons’ kite strings.

“These strings not only cut through other kite strings when in the air, but are also quite capable of cutting through the skin of animals and human beings, thereby severely injuring and even killing them,” PETA said in its petition.

The petition, filed through advocate Shadan Farasat, pointed out how ‘manjha’ posed a huge threat when it comes in contact with live overhead electric wires, leading to grid failure.