Cuttack: Despite a ban, sale and use of Chinese manja (powdered glass coating) on threads of plastic, cotton and nylon continue unabated due to lack of enforcement by the administration in the city. Unrestricted and unsafe kite flying has posed a serious threat to people as well as birds in and around the city.
Ahead of Makar Sankranti, a 42-year-old man of 42 Mouza in the city sustained injuries on his neck and hand after a nylon string curled him on Thursday morning. The man identified as Sitaram Tandi was rushed to a hospital for treatment. While Tandi’s case is said to be the first incident ahead of Makar Sankranti on January 14, every year similar incidents are reported in the city.
Though both police as well as enforcement wing of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) are claiming to have been carrying out enforcement, residents are not impressed as such mishaps have recurred despite a ban by the administration.
In 2016, the district administration in response to the direction of Orissa High Court had imposed restrictions strictly on sale and use of manja thread and unsafe kite flying after a minor girl died in a mishap near Telengapentha. As per the direction of the HC, around 10 safe places were identified by the district administration to fly kites in the city but still people continued to fly kites on the rooftops, roads and public places in the city.
“We had seen police and CMC enforcement wing carrying out enforcement activities on Makar Sankranti day. But none came forward to curb kite flying on Sunday and other holidays,” said the residents. The manja threads could be seen dangling from trees, electric poles, signboards, roofs and boundary walls and even lying on the roads and streets.
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