Jail For Chinese Manja Users

Prashant Kumar Jha, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Telangana, today warned that use of Chinese (synthetic) manjha for flying kites will be dealt with seriously.

Threads with nylon and synthetic coating, commonly referred to as Chinese manjha, are quite dangerous, and prohibited, he said.

Talking to media persons after holding a review meeting on the blanket ban on the use of Chinese manja, he said that people should avoid using this thread as it could cut fingers, pose a danger for bike drivers on the roads, and kill birds.

As per a Green Tribunal directive, there was a five-year jail sentence for using Chinese manja, Jha warned. Sale and storage of this manja would attract a 5-year jail term and a Rs 1 lakh fine if it harmed people, and a 3-to 7-year jail term and a Rs 10,000 fine if it hurt birds.

"In coordination with other departments we have seized 900 kg of nylon manja and filed 123 cases, most of them in the Old City, so far. Vehicles will also be seized if they are transporting the banned manja," Jha warned.

Details of violations can be informed on telephone numbers 040-23231440 and 1800-255-364.