**Executive Summary**
This document addresses concerns raised in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1511 regarding the illegal sale and use of Chinese Manjha, a dangerous kite string. It outlines the actions taken by the Government of India and various state governments to enforce existing bans and prevent future incidents. Key actions include issuing prohibitory orders, conducting inspections, and raising public awareness, all aimed at reducing injuries and fatalities. The question was to be answered on 09.02.2026
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Prohibitory Orders and Enforcement:**
* Over 19 States/UTs have issued prohibitory orders under various acts, including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, banning the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, and use of Chinese Manjha.
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has requested Chief Secretaries of all States/UTs to take appropriate measures and issue prohibitory orders.
* Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) to strictly enforce the ban on Chinese Manjha and prevent violations by manufacturers.
* **CPCB Directives:**
* CPCB has issued directions to prohibit the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, and use of Chinese Manjha.
* Existing units with Consent to Operate (CTO) are not allowed to manufacture Chinese Manjha.
* Manufacturers of synthetic fibers must submit annual self-declaration statements to ensure their products are not used for manufacturing Chinese Manjha.
* Wide publicity campaigns must be conducted to raise awareness about the ban.
* **State-Level Actions:**
* Telangana has imposed a complete ban on the sale, production, storage, supply, and use of nylon, plastic, and Chinese Manjha. Telangana State Pollution Control Board instructed action against units involved in sale, storage and usage.
* Karnataka has reported no units manufacturing non-biodegradable thread for kite flying.
* Uttar Pradesh has issued directions for the prohibition of manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, and use of synthetic kite-flying thread. They conducted awareness programs, seizures, raids, and inspections.
* **Uttar Pradesh Incident and Response:**
* A death occurred in Uttar Pradesh due to Chinese Manjha in January 2026.
* A special drive was conducted in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, resulting in 51 cases registered, 60 arrests, and 308 kg of Chinese Manjha confiscated.
* Drone surveillance was used, and awareness campaigns were conducted to promote safety measures.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** State Governments and UTs
**Impact:** Required to enforce existing bans, issue prohibitory orders, and take measures to prevent the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, and use of Chinese Manjha.
**Action Required:** Implement and enforce the ban on Chinese Manjha and conduct awareness campaigns.
**Stakeholder:** State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)
**Impact:** Must ensure strict enforcement of the ban on Chinese Manjha.
**Action Required:** Implement directives from the CPCB and take action against manufacturers and sellers of Chinese Manjha.
**Stakeholder:** Manufacturers of synthetic fibers
**Impact:** Required to ensure their products are not used in the production of Chinese Manjha.
**Action Required:** Submit annual self-declaration statements and ensure their products are sold only to valid users.
**Stakeholder:** Public
**Impact:** Increased safety due to reduced use of dangerous kite strings.
**Action Required:** Comply with the ban and take safety measures during kite flying and motorcycle driving.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC): The primary coordinating ministry addressing the illegal sale and use of Chinese Manjha.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB): Agency requested by MoEF&CC to issue prohibitory orders and ensure enforcement of the ban.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Act under which states/UTs are issuing prohibitory orders against Chinese Manjha.
National Green Tribunal (NGT): Tribunal that imposed a ban on Chinese Manjha in 2017.
Uttar Pradesh: One of the specific locations where Chinese Manjha use has led to deaths and injuries, and where enforcement actions are being taken.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1511
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Illegal Sale and use of Chinese Manjha
1511. SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that in January 2026, during the festival of Makar
Sankranti, a 28-year-old doctor, Dr. Sameer Hashmi, died in Jaunpur after his throat was slit
by Chinese kite string (Chinese manjha), which was the second such death in the district
within a month;
(b) the reasons for despite the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2017, even
through a total of three deaths and more than 100 serious injuries have been reported in Uttar
Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka;
(c) the steps taken by the Government/State Government to impose restrictions on the sale of
kite string during festival, including market inspections, raids, seizures and awareness
campaigns; and
(d) the coordination mechanism put in place between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change and the Ministry of Home Affairs to prevent such deaths in future?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d): More than 19 States/ UTs have issued prohibitory orders under Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986, Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960, the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972 and Indian Penal Code, etc to ban manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of Chinese
manjha/ nylon/glass coated/synthetic thread for kite flying, including Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
6 States/UTs have informed that they have no manufacturing industries/units of chinese
manjha/nylon thread in respective States/UTs.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) vide letter dated 23.02.2023
has requested the Chief Secretaries of the States/UTs, to take appropriate measures and issue
prohibitory orders for banning the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of Chinese manjha/
nylon/synthetic/ glass-coated thread for kite flying. Further, MoEF&CC vide letter dated
23.02.2023 has also requested Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to take appropriate
measures and issue prohibitory orders in this regard.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), vide letter dated 27.03.2023, issued the following
directions to all State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)
under Section l8 (1) (b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to ensure strict enforcement of ban of use of
Chinese Manjha and to prevent violation by manufacturers:i. to prohibit the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of Chinese Manjha/nylon/
synthetic material/ glass coated thread used for kite flying;
ii. to ensure that existing units with valid Consent to Operate (CTO) shall not manufacture
or produce Chinese Manjha/nylon/synthetic/glass-coated thread for kite flying;
iii. to ensure submission of Annual Self-declaration statement by "Synthetic fibre including
rayon, tyre cord, polyester filament yarn" manufacturing units that they are supplying their
product only to valid users and not to any entity involved in manufacturing Chinese
manjha/nylon/ synthetic material/ glass coated thread for kite flying; and
iv. to give wide publicity about ban on manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of Chinese
Manjha/nylon/ synthetic material/ glass coated thread used for kite flying through local
newspaper/media etc.
The Environment, Forests, Science & Technology (EFS&T) Department, Government of
Telangana vide Government Orders dated 17.01.2018 and 13.01.2016, put a complete ban on the
sale, production, storage, supply and use of nylon, plastic and Chinese Manjha and any other kite-
flying thread that is sharp or made sharp such as by laced with glass, metal or other sharp objects
in the State of Telangana. In the State of Telangana, there are no manufacturing units
manufacturing synthetic manjha/nylon threads. Telangana State Pollution Control Board issued
communication on 04.01.2025 to all District Collectors to take action against the units involved in
sale, storage and usage of synthetic manjha/nylon thread.
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board vide their letter dated 28.05.2020 informed that there are
no units manufacturing thread made of nylon, synthetic material and/or coated with synthetic
substances that is non-biodegradable for kite flying.
The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh has issued
directions under section-5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 01.05.2017 to all
concerned Govt. Authorities for prohibition of manufacture, sale, storage, purchase and use of
thread made of nylon, synthetic material and/or coated with synthetic substances which is non-
biodegradable for kite flying. Meeting was conducted on 30.01.2026 by Principal Secretary,
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh with Home
Department, Govt, of Uttar Pradesh, all the District Magistrates and Senior Superintendent Police/
Superintendent Police, Uttar Pradesh. Accordingly, directions have been issued to all District
Magistrates and Police officials to conduct awareness programmes, seizures, raids and inspections
of shops. Home Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh., has issued directions to Police and all District
Magistrates to comply with the ban imposed by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh vide letter dated
01.05.2017.
As reported by State Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, one person named Dr. Sameer Hashmi died on
14.01.2026 after he cut his throat by kite manjha/thread. In District Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, it has
been informed that a Special Drive was conducted to enforce the ban on sale of chinese
manjha/synthetic thread. During Special Drive, 51 prosecution cases have been registered under
Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 60 persons were arrested and 308 kg of Chinese manjha was confiscated
during December 2025 to January 2026. Drone surveillance was also carried out and action has
been taken against persons who used Chinese manjha for kite flying. Awareness through public
address systems, has been conducted to inform citizens to take safety measures during motorcycle
driving.
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