Distt. Admn puts ban on sale of Chinese kite thread : Despite ban Chinese string being discreetly sold

‘Patang Baazi’ – known for kite flying is part of the cultural heritage

Distt. Admn puts ban on sale of Chinese kite thread

Despite ban Chinese string being discreetly sold

Ferozepur, January 30, 2016: The district administration has put a blanket ban on sale of Chinese kite thread and its use for flying kites,  exercising the powers under section 144 of 1973 Act keeping in view the serious consequences of its use.  The ban will remain in force till March 31.

Er.DPS Kharbanda, Deputy Commissioenr said, the use of Chinese thread is harmful for human lives, it also injured the birds flying in the sky.  He said, because of the strength of the string, there are sometimes accidents on the roads resulting in cutting of organs even.

Keeping all this in view, the sale and store of Chinese string has been banned completely and in case anyone violates the instructions, he will face the music under the law, he added.

But despite a ban being imposed by the district administration on the sale of Chinese thread, the string, generally used for kite flying, is being discreetly sold in several parts of the city with a well established network of traders involved in its import from other parts of the country.

At the same time, there is high demand for the thread, despite the fact that it is emerging as a major threat to birds and people alike.

Though the administration claimed that it was keeping a close watch on the shops selling kites to ensure that the banned string is not sold in the market, traders are selling it to known customers, who further sell the string to other people. There were also reports that the string is being supplied through the private couriers instead on the shops.

However, in contrast to the traditional strings used in India, Chinese thread is made of nylon, with a metal coating giving it extra strength and sharpness.

Several incidents of injury to people due to this string have been reported in the past in the city and across the country. There also have been instances where birds have fallen due to the sharpness of the Chinese thread.

Commuters are most at risk and helpless and it is big threat to birds.  A slight contact with the thread while on move can cause severe injuries, said Jatinder Kumar a local resident.

A old timer who makes the thread for kite flying who made traditionally, special strings for kite flying – Bill said, the thin cotton thread which is treated with a paste made of glue and finely powdered glass to make it strong is outdated now with the availability of Chinese thread in the market.

Kite flying in this part is a like a festival as hundreds of people of the city, now even in their old age, who have settled outside, come to the city to enjoy the kite flying which starts with night kite flying, with full volume DJs for whole of the day on the day of Basant festival.  Hi-Bo is the pet word in full voice, on cutting of the kite of the other person.

Particularly added here that during the season a lot of money is spent on the kites and strings  and its raggedness can be gauged from people use bottles neck or tape to protect their fingers from the sharp thread while flying kites.

‘Patang baazi’, as kite flying is popularly known, is part of the cultural heritage