CM WANTS CENTRE TO BAN CHINA-MADE KITE STRING

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav wants a complete ban on the import of China-made glass layered kite string (manjha) which has caused an increasing number of injuries and deaths.

The chief minister has sent a letter to union minister of state (independent charge) for commerce and industry Nirmala Sitharaman, saying a ban was needed as the China-made ‘manjha’ was proving life threatening.

As kite flying is considered an integral part of the festival season commencing on Tuesday, the chief minister’s demand for the ban assumes significance.

In his letter dated October 8, 2015, Yadav has quoted recent incidents of Moradabad and Allahabad to make his point that the China made ‘manjha’ used in kite flying was proving fatal.

According to the chief minister’s letter, Moradabad resident Mohamamd Arif, along with his wife Shamshul and five- year-old son Amir Hamza, were riding a motorcycle when the ‘manjha’ got entangled in his neck on August 28 this year. Hamza was seriously injured in the incident and died in hospital.

In another incident, Allahabad resident Gaurav Banerjee and his friend Divyani Jaiswal were riding his scooty when the ‘manjha’ got entangled in his neck, said the chief minister’s letter. It further said Banerjee suffered a deep cut in his neck and the girl sustained injuries on her cheeks. Both of them fell off the scooty. They were taken to a nearby hospital where Gaurav Banerjee was declared dead.