Ban on use of nylon thread coated with glass / Chinese Manjha during the festival or other occasions in the State of Tamil Nadu

No. 375] CHENNAI, MONDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2023 Aippasi 13, Sobakiruthu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu-2054

Part II—Section 1

Notifications or Orders of specific character or of particular interest to the

public issued by Secretariat Departments.

NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREST DEPARTMENT.

BAN ON USE OF NYLON THREAD COATED WITH GLASS / CHINESE MANJHA DURING THE FESTIVAL OR OTHER OCCASIONS IN THE STATE OF TAMIL NADU.

[G.O. Ms. No. 143, Environment, Climate Change and Forest (EC-2), 6th October 2023,

புரட்டாசி 19, சோபகிருது, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2054.]

No. II(1)/ECCF/31(g)/2023.

WHEREAS, Article 48A of the Constitution of India, inter-alia envisages, Protection and improvement of environment and safeguarding of forests and wild life and provides that the State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wild life of the country.

AND WHEREAS, it is a fact that during the kite flying, a lot of injury is caused to the people and birds on account to Pucca Thread made out of Plastic or similar such synthetic material commonly known as Manjha Thread. These injuries many a times of turn out to be fatal causing death of people, animals and birds. It is, therefore, desirable to protect the people and birds from the fatal effects of the kite thread made out of plastic or synthetic thread, known as Manjha thread.

AND WHEREAS, during the kite flying several kites get out in the sky as a consequence of kite competition or otherwise, all these cut threads along with the kite remain on the land. Because of the very long life of the plastic material and being non-biodegradable in nature, these continue to be causing problems such as blockage of sewers, drainage lines, natural waterways such as rivers, streams etc and suffocation of cows and other animals also who eat food items along with such plastic materials. Thus the impact of such plastic materials used for making thread commonly known as Manjha thread are many and varied.

AND WHEREAS, the Hon'ble National Green Tribunal (PB), New Delhi vide its orders dated. 11.07.2017 passed in Original Application No. 384 of 2016, and Original Application No. 442 of 2016 MA.Nos.1247/2016 and 317 of 2017 in the case of khalid Ashraf & Anr. Vs Union of India and others and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India Vs. Union of India and others has directed that:-

3. All the Chief Secretaries / Administration of the State Governments and Union Territories are directed to enforce

the prohibition of manufacture and use of synthetic manjha / nylon thread for kite flying throughout their state/ territories.

4. The respondents are directed to ban import of any synthetic manjha/ nylon thread or similar thread coated with

synthetic substances in any part of the country."

AND WHEREAS, the Central Government vide its Notification No. S.O 152 (E), dated 10th February 1988 has

delegates the powers vested in it under section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, (Central Act 29 of 1986)

to the Government of Tamil Nadu.

NOW THEREFORE, in order to prevent adverse effect on human beings cattle population, soil and ecology, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Central Act (29 of 1986) and in compliance to the above directions of the Hon'ble Green Tribunal, the Governor of Tamil Nadu hereby issues the following directions:-

Directions:

There shall be a complete ban on the manufacture, sale, storage, purchase, supply, import and use of kite flying

thread made out of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material including the popularly known 'Manjha thread' and

any other synthetic kite flying thread which is quoted with synthetic substance and is non-biodegradable in the State

of Tamil Nadu

Authorized officers for implementation of the directions:-

The following competent authorities are authorized to implement this Notification;

(i) All District Collectors in the State of Tamil Nadu;

(ii) Officers of the rank of Forest Range Officers and above of the Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu;

(iii) Officers of the rank of Sub-Inspectors and above of the Tamil Nadu Police;

(iv) Commissioner of the Corporation, Municipalities and Officers of the other Local Bodies.

Whoever fails to comply with or contravenes any of the above orders/directions shall be liable to be penalized under the provisions of the said Act. The above directions shall come into force from the date of publication of this notification in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette.

SUPRIYA SAHU, Additional Chief Secretary to Government.