The Meeting held on 07.01.2020 with NGOs, Volunteers and Forest officials to discuss implementation of orders of Hon’ble NGT. Prl. Bench, New Delhi imposing ban on use of Synthetic glass coated manja in kite flying during Sankranthi festival*
Slogan coined for the occasion: “This Sankranthi let the Birds fly along with the Kites”.
• The NGT in O.A. No. 384 of 2016 and O.A. No;. 442 of 2016 ordered total ban on Nylon or synthetic material coated with glass material in kite flying. The NGT directed prohibition of manufacture sale, storage and purchase of synthetic manja.
• The penalty for violation under Environmental Protection Act, 1986 is imprisonment up to 5 years and fine up Rs.1.00 lakh or both.
• The penalty for inuring and killing wild animals and birds under section – 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is imprisonment of 3 to 7 years and fine not less than Rs. 10,000/-.
• The Telangana Forest Dept, along NGOs, Volunteers and other Govt. agencies has been implementing the ban order since 2016-17 by conducting awareness campaign, bringing out posters in different languages, conducting raids and seizure of synthetic manja.
• The Forest Dept. also conducts rescue of Birds entangled in synthetic thread during and after kite flying festival.
• The Dept. will be organizing five mobile teams during sankranthi covering different parts of the city consisting of Forest officials and NGOs to create awareness and to ensure implementation of ban.
• Letters will be addressed to all Dist. Collectors, Superintendents of Police, Conservators, DFOs / FDOs to implement ban orders.
• Members participating in the meeting gave valuable suggestions and assured their cooperation to Forest Dept. in implementing the ban.
• Members suggested the Dept. to address all the organizations who are conducting kite festivals not to use banned thread.
• The Prl. Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) & (Admn.) thanked all the members for participating in the meeting and gave valuable suggestions.
• The Forest Dept. provided posters to all the NGOs and Volunteers in three languages English, Telugu and Urdu and assured more such posters on demand.
