Despite ban, sale of Chinese string continues

Despite the blanket ban on the sale, purchase and use of hazardous synthetic plastic kite string popularly known as China-dor, its sale goes on in the holy city albeit secretly.

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The shopkeepers involved in the illegal trade were selling the same only to the ‘known’ dealers and clients.

Residents and activists of various organisations wanted the district administration to clamp sections of the Environment Protection Act (EPA) in the FIRs as the plastic string was also dangerous for environment, animals and birds.

Currently, the police registered a case under Section 223 of the BNS, which is a bailable offence.

In January, the then Gurdaspur DC Himanshu Agarwal enforced Section 15 of the EPA after the instances of injuries by Chinese string rose there. The provision mandates jail for five years or fine of Rs 1 lakh or both.

A kite trader requesting anonymity said Chinese string was being supplied to Punjab from Noida and further distributed from Ludhiana and Jalandhar traders. These were now being manufactured illegally in certain pockets of Ludhiana and Jalandhar besides Noida, he added.

“There are two prominent dealers in Borian Wala Bazaar in walled city and one near Gopal Mandir on Majitha Road. If the administration acts strictly, the menace would be wiped out of the markets of Amritsar,” he claimed.

“Ironically, those involved in the trade were not traditional kite and dor makers. They are from other trades,” he said while adding that in Gurdaspur, a book shop owner was selling the Chinese string.

Alam Vijay Singh, DCP (Law and Order) said the police was taking appropriate measures and banned its use, sale and purchase. The public should also understand and they should not use the deadly thread of their recreational activity.