Makar Sankranti in Mumbai: Nearly 30 birds injured by kite strings rescued from various parts of city

File Photo/AP/PTI

During the Makar Sankranti festival in Mumbai on Monday, nearly 30 birds suffered injuries due to kite strings, prompting rescue efforts by wildlife organizations. Pawan Sharma, the founder and president of Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare (RAWW) and honorary wildlife warden with the forest department, reported receiving distress calls from various parts of the city.

Birds with torn and fractured wings, resulting from glass-coated, Chinese, and nylon kite strings, were among those rescued. Dr. Rina Dev of the RiWild Sanctuary highlighted the severity of the injuries sustained by the birds.

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Sharma emphasized that additional cases are expected to emerge in the following weeks as non-biodegradable kite strings are likely to be found on trees, soil, and water. He appealed to citizens and rescuers to actively remove and dispose of discarded kite strings from rescue sites.

Meanwhile, Police took stringent action against the use and sale of nylon manja, a sharp kite-flying thread, registering 92 cases and penalizing 57 individuals during Makar Sankranti in Mumbai. The crackdown, initiated on December 25 and ongoing during the kite-flying festival, led to the seizure of nylon manja worth over Rs 1.43 lakh. The police efforts were implemented across different police stations in Mumbai.

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Pertinently, in anticipation of Makar Sankranti 2024, Mumbai Police had issued preventative order prohibiting the use of nylon manja and declaring it a punishable offense.

In a bid to protect endangered bird species and prevent injuries during the widespread kite-flying activities of Makar Sankranti, the police issued a ban on the use, sale, and storage of nylon manja from January 12, 2024, to February 10, 2024, within the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Police Commissionerate.

The order stipulated that any violation of the ban would be punishable under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The ban is set to remain in force from 00:01 hrs on January 12, 2024, until 24:00 hrs on February 10, 2024, unless withdrawn earlier. This initiative reflects the authorities' commitment to mitigating the potential harm caused by the use of nylon manja during the festive season. (With inputs from agencies)