‘What have you done to enforce nylon manja ban?’
   Date :15-Jan-2021
Staff Reporter :
 
High Court’s poser to Environment Secretary
 
 
Expressing deep concern over the menace of nylon threads leading to loss of animal, bird, and human life and serious injuries to scores of citizens, Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court has sought a detailed reply from Principal Secretary of Environment Department to spell out details of efforts made in last four years to enforce the ban. All authorities including civic agencies, district administration, and police machinery have been asked to enforce nylon manja ban in letter and spirit. A division bench consisting of Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Anil Kilor, while hearing a suo-motu PIL registered on the basis of newspaper reports, made it clear that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had passed a detailed order and even the State Government had passed elaborate instructions and sought details of actual enforcement from the authority responsible for its compliance.
 
Presently, the notices have been issued only to the Principal Secretary of Environment Department. Amicus Curiae Deven Chauhan presented a well-researched PIL running into 330 pages pointing out brazen violations by all authorities in enforcing nylon manja ban, its easy availability through on-line portals, absence of mass awareness programmes, and lax enforcement throughout the year.
 
He also pointed out various instances in Nagpur city to reiterate that the order dated June 18, 2016 passed by Principal Secretary of Environment Department. He said that it was not being complied with at the ground level, which was leading to recurrence of casualties. The PIL made Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), City Police, and State as party respondents. The High Court, in its order, referred to order passed by NGT in 2017 by which a complete ban on nylon manja was imposed since such synthetic thread posed a threat to the lives of birds, animals and humans. NGT had directed all State Governments to prohibit ‘manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use’ of synthetic manja or nylon threads and all other synthetic threads used for flying kites.
 
Similar order was passed by Principal Secretary in June 2016 following a similar judgement passed by Nagpur bench rejecting petition filed by manja-sellers. In fact, the order contemplated that stockists and retailers be stopped from selling such thread well in advance and not just on the eve of ‘Makar Sankranti’. Adv Deven Chauhan (Amicus Curiae), Additional GP Dipak Thakre (State), Adv Ravi Sanyal (MPCB), Adv J B Kasat (NMC) appeared in the matter.
 

NDS team_1  H x 
 NDS team with seized kites and nylon manja in aftermath of crackdown in city on Makar Sankranti.
 
 
NDS crackdown on nylon manja, plastic kites on Makar Sankranti
 
Action by NMC in 10 zones led to recovery of Rs 55,000 fine and seizure of 4,048 kites n Staff Reporter : Knocked into action after series of mishaps owing to nylon manja in city, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) launched biggest ever crackdown against sellers violating the prohibited items. In the single day action, Nuisance Detection Squads (NDS) fanned out in all ten zones and recovered fine of Rs 55,000. Similarly during the drive, 4,048 kites made from banned plastic film were also seized confiscated. NMC had done its home work and the NDS teams did not limit themselves to main roads or main market but even fanned out in small lanes and by-lanes where some sellers were selling nylon manja and plastic kites on the sly.
 
As orders were crystal clear, ground teams of NMC ensured that no one was spared. Vendors selling nylon cats and plastic moths, as well as people flying nylon cats and plastic kites, were targeted during the crack down on Thursday. Some adventurous tend to go beyond the traditional festival and tend to use flashy items like big plastic kites and nylon cats that off late is catching fancy. As per details, the NDS teams inspected 424 shops throughout the city and confiscated banned items and also imposed fine.
 
Action was taken against 55 shopkeepers selling nylon cats and plastic kites. During the drive even citizens were not spared as 250 people who flew kites using nylon cats were caught at various places. About 4048 kites and 107 wheels were seized during the day long operation. A fine of Rs 55,000 was recovered in the case. Maximum action was taken in Ashinagar Zone of NMC where 70 shops were inspected. Out of that action was taken against 21 shopkeepers. The zone on Tuesday topped the list of action taken against kite fliers and the highest number of action was taken against 35 in the zone.