Open house: what steps should the dist admn take to strictly enforce ban on the sale of synthetic string?

Ban does not seem to be effective

Though banned but still being sold, Chinese kite string has become the proverbial ‘hangman’s noose’ in many ways. This kite string not only comes from China but is also being made locally under many brand names. The string is not made from cotton thread but nylon and is coated with a deadly mix of powdered glass and iron filings which makes it sharp and a good conductor of electricity. Many have been seriously hurt while walking and driving two-wheelers. In Amritsar, there are many power disruptions for long hours in various localities on the kite-flying festival of Lohri. This is caused by the Chinese string falling on live power transmission lines, thus causing short-circuit and resulting in power failures. We see many injured birds entangled in this thread, unable to free themselves. The much announced so-called ban on sale of Chinese string has proved to be a boon for the unscrupulous elements who manage the sale of the banned string by coded calls and also home delivery. Other than a total ban on making and selling of kites, the only possible solution seems to be meting out harsh penalties and punishments on the offenders. At the same time, the connivance of the police, if any, should be curbed and some incentives should be given to persons apprehending the culprits. There should be campaigns highlighting the dangerous consequences of this deadly string’s use, especially among the younger generation. The active role of educational institutes and parents will really bring about the desired results. A special flying squad of the police, exclusively for this purpose, will prove to be very effective.

LJ Singh

Take strict action, spare no one

Chinese thread is a bloody string. It caused the death of a six-year-old boy (Tarn Tarn), an 18-year-old youth (Ajnala) and a 45-year-old man (Jalandhar). The synthetic thread can cut the neck of travellers who ride bikes and cycles on the roads. It can kill birds that fly in the sky. Despite being banned, people bought Chinese string and flew kites with Chinese string on Lohri. Many incidents happened with the Chinese string. We heard news about a girl who was seriously injured while going to Batala from Amritsar on her moped. More such incidents are happening these days because of Chinese string. Who is responsible for this? When it is banned, how does it reach the shops, how does it get sold? If we really want to get rid of this dreadful Chinese string, it is necessary to take stern action on who sells and who buys. No one who is involved in encouraging the Chinese string should be spared. If any supplier and manufacturing company is caught by the police during the raid, Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) should be invoked against these culprits.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Create awareness about deadly string

Use of Chinese string has always proved to be a gateway to accidents and mishaps. Recently, a man died in Adampur of Doaba region (Punjab) due to Chinese string. These types of incidents claiming the lives of innocent human beings, animals and birds are not new because in the past, such fatal incidents have already taken place. The visibility of the Chinese string is bleak and it can cause injuries at vulnerable places like the neck while driving a two-wheeler. Similarly, the birds come in contact with the string which can prove fatal for them. It is the duty of the administration to strictly implement the ban on Chinese/synthetic string and its sale should not be allowed at any cost. Heavy fines should be imposed on all those shopkeepers found guilty of selling this Chinese string. The administration should make the masses aware about the need to use a string which is not so much of a threat to lives. The police department along with the district administration should carry out a surprise check on shopkeepers who deal with kite string. A few years back, the cotton thread was used for flying kites which was not so harmful. The people should unite and come forward to boycott the sale of Chinese/synthetic string at any cost, howsoever cheap it may be. Social organisations should create awareness regarding the fatal results of Chinese/synthetic string.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Restrict use of Chinese dor

After intense fog and chilly days, Lohri marks the beginning of change in season. Sunshine brightens around Basant Panchami, when young children have fun with their friends, flying colourful kites in the sky. Although many incidents of sudden fall from rooftops or accidents along roads/streets leading to serious injuries or even death due to carelessness in flying kites have occurred in the past, the fervour goes on unabated among the youth just for a merriment of few hours. Indeed, kite-flying from rooftops or on busy roadsides is extremely dangerous and should not be allowed for safety purposes. Apart from this, even more worrisome is that the usual handmade string of cotton or jute used to fly a kite earlier has now been replaced by synthetic China dor, which is very sharp, abrasive and unbreakable too. Being thin and often not visible from a distance, it poses a grave risk to both humans and wildlife to the extent that many innocent children flying kites with this string, and even adults riding scooters/motorcycles have suffered and some lost their lives because of the sharp cuts inflicted by it. But the pity is that despite a ban on the sale of harmful Chinese string, it is available at several kite-selling shops. Therefore, the district administration must take effective steps to enforce the ban on its sale by imposing heavy penalties and fines, while the parents for the safety of their wards will have to be proactively cautious that they do not use this dangerous string. All out vigil is required on traders and shopkeepers procuring and illegally selling Chinese kite strings. Efforts should be made to conduct rigorous customs inspections to detect and seize the spools of such strings at ports of entry. More importantly, there is an apparent need to carry out a vigorous public awareness campaign to sensitise people about the hazardous nature of this string. To top it all, stringent action is warranted to book the culprits flouting ban orders to save precious lives falling prey to the restricted item, in this case, the banned synthetic string.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Special task force should enforce ban

It is unfortunate that in spite of a law prohibiting the sale and purchase of Chinese kite string (popularly known as China dor), people are still using it, thereby causing the commuters serious injuries and even death. The government needs to view it very seriously and take solid measures to prevent such occurrences. There should be a total ban on the import of Chinese kite string and any violation should attract criminal proceedings. Local manufacturing, sale, storage, distribution and purchase of this item in any form should be prescribed as illegal with strict provision of punishment to the violators. The measures should also effectively deter users with punishment equivalent to criminal offences. It is equally important to ensure complete enforcement of statutory provisions by the special task force formed by the police. Moreover, public awareness should be created through all available media. Special campaigns should be launched by the task force before the onset of festivals where kite flying is massively practiced for celebrations.

Jagdish Chander

Ban synthetic string completely

Chinese string should be banned completely because it is dangerous for environment. Normally, these strings are coated with a synthetic material, often glass and metal. It causes serious injuries to people, particularly pedestrians and small children. There have been several incidents of cuts and even fatalities by it. Birds often get entangled in these strings, leading to their death. These are made of non-biogradable material, often made of nylon or plastic which do not decompose easily and cause environmental pollution, harming the ecosystem. There is damage to electrical wires when it gets entangled in it, causing power outage. These strings should be banned completely due to its dangerous nature. Promote safe material for this problem has been existing for many years. It is high time that the use of this string is discontinued completely to save the people and environment.

Shashi Kiran

Pro-active approach is required

Chinese kite string has started wrecking the lives of people. Haramritpal Singh aka Rajan (43), a resident of Verka and railway employee, lost his life after a dangling Chinese kite string slit his throat on the Verka-Batala Road (BRTS) flyover. Each year, as festivities commence, countless lives of not only humans but also innocent animals are lost due to various preventable incidents, one such being the hazardous illegal kite strings. This alarming pattern highlights a pressing issue that requires immediate attention from our government. Authorities must implement comprehensive measures aimed at ensuring public safety during this festive season. By prioritising prevention strategies, we can work together to reduce these heartbreaking occurrences and protect our communities from the devastating consequences that very often accompany the start of a new year. To eliminate potential hazards associated with kite flying, a series of measures should be proposed, one of which is a complete ban on the trade of kite strings within India. By restricting access to these strings, the government could aim to ensure that they are not available to the general public or local vendors. In addition to this, online shopping apps based in China and which sell banned Chinese articles should be tracked down and prohibited in India. This proactive approach will seek to minimise the risks associated with kite-related accidents, as the absence of these strings will inhibit both their use and sale, ultimately helping to prevent any associated harm to individuals and communities. Secondly, impose a strict criminal offence against vendors and users of Chinese kite strings as they basically are going to kill an animal or in a worst case scenario, a human. Hence, they should be immediately caught and tried for criminal offences in court. This could in return instill fear in the people who choose to use these products which pose a threat to the life of innocent people. These actions are essential for the government if it aims to improve the condition of streets in Punjab, ensuring that they are safe to navigate during the festive season.

Lakshit Jindal

Create awareness against its use

To strictly enforce the ban on sale of synthetic kite string, strict laws should be enshrined whereby defaulters should be jailed for a minimum period of three years. Secondly, to ensure a complete ban, only honest and intelligent police officials should be assigned the task of nabbing the culprits. Last, but not the least, awareness should be created among children in schools persuading them not to use the synthetic string. The help of media can be taken to make the public aware.

Sanjay Chawla

Question for next week

TThere has been an increase in traffic violations in the city. What steps should the administration take to make the roads safer for users and ensure that traffic rules are followed?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (January 23)