HYDERABAD: The ban on Chinese Manja or ‘dor’ could not stop sale of the manja in the busy markets of Hyderabad on Thursday. Shopkeepers did brisk business and people vied to buy it. Telangana forest department officials as well as shopkeepers feel it was too late to impose the restriction.
The officials said they will not seize the stock of Chinese manja on Thursday and Friday, and would conduct raids from Saturday. The manja is made of nylon thread coated with crushed glass.
The state government issued an order on Wednesday banning procuring, stocking, sale and use of Chinese manja and glass-coated manja. The decision was taken following a letter from the Union environment ministry asking all states to take action against the Chinese dor.
On Thursday, forest department officials went around two places in Hyderabad which are famous for high quality manjas and kites: Dhoolpet and Gulzar House. However, they restricted their activity to sensitising people on how the manjas pose a threat to lives of birds and human beings.
By the time the restriction was announced, shopkeepers stocked spools (Charak in Telugu) reeled with the dangerous manja and put it on sale. For some, it was a one time business who wanted to make quick profits.
“We could have taken effective action this season if the order was issued at least a month ago,” said an official.
“I did not hear anything about the ban. Most people ask for Chinese manja, and we want to do good business. So we buy more of it, and less spools of cotton manja. Had the order been issued a few months ago, it could have been effective. It is too late now,” said Ramana, a shopkeeper in Warasiguda.
“We will start conducting raids from Saturday to seize the banned manja. We distributed pamphlets with pictures of people injured because of the manja, and also explained how children and birds get hurt because of it,” said V Satish Kumar, wildlife associate, Anti-Poaching Squad, Telangana forest dept.
