mid-day editorial: Have a safe flight sans the manjha

In a welcome move, the Delhi government has banned use of glass or metal-coated kite strings, commonly called ‘manjha', after two children died on Independence Day in separate accidents, barely 10 km apart.

Independence Day kite flying resulted in the death of a three year-old girl and a four year-old boy, after the string cut their necks. Although in different cars, both the children were peering out of the sunroofs of their vehicles, when kite strings slit their throats. They were immediately rushed to hospital, but were declared dead on arrival. According to other reports, a young man in West Delhi died when a kite string slashed his throat while he was riding a motorbike on the flyover. The deaths proved catalyst for the Delhi government to issue a notification that sale, production and storage of metal or glass-coated kite threads are banned in the Capital. The notice added that use of cotton or natural thread is permitted.

Instead of following the familiar and often futile practice of waiting for a calamity before reacting, maybe, it is time for other state governments to follow suit. But more importantly, once this rule is in place, steps should be taken to ensure its implementation. The proposed fine of Rs 1 lakh and five years in prison for those who violate the ban is a good first move, but there should be no room for corruption. The ban must prove that law's teeth are sharper than all those deadly glass-coated kite strings.

Mumbai too needs to keep a close watch as the sheer number and density of people here make this city especially vulnerable when it comes to kite flying. Broken strings of manjha often dangle from buildings and trees on the streets, posing risk to cyclists, two wheelers and those leaning out of car windows.

In other instances, preoccupied kite flyers themselves have leaned too far over low terrace walls and fallen off the buildings. So every government needs to take a stand with reference to the practice of kite flying. ‘Safe flight' takes a new and urgent meaning for all of us.