Above: NGT’s judgment on manjha came on a plea filed by PETA. Photo: UNI

The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) principal bench, headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar, has now officially banned manjha, the glass coated thread used for kite-flying. The ban takes effect immediately.

The bench has ordered that all “manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use” of synthetic manjha or nylon threads and all other synthetic threads used for flying kites be stopped.

The order is on nylon threads (Chinese) as well as on cotton manjha coated with glass.

The bench order, however, said: “There shall be a total ban on manjha or thread for kite flying which is made of nylon or any other synthetic material and or is coated with synthetic substance and is non-biodegradable.”

The petition was filed by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the judgment was reserved on April 12.

The bench said that the threads were non-bio degradable which adds to the increasing solid waste, making it dangerous for birds, animals and humans. The tribunal rejected the contention of the State of Gujarat and the Union of India to allow glass coated threads for the purpose of kite flying as it is a part of Indian tradition.

The bench made it clear that no compromise shall be made when it comes to environment.

—India Legal Bureau