Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 17: Notwithstanding ban, the sale of Chinese thread (the string generally used for kite flying), is being discreetly sold in several parts of the city by a well established network of traders.
There is high demand for the Chinese thread, despite the fact that it is mounting as a major threat to people and birds alike.
Though the Police Department claimed that it was keeping a close watch on the shops selling kites to ensure that the banned string is not sold in the market, traders are selling it to “known clients”, who further sell the string to other people.
There is huge rush for kites in the winter capital ahead of Raksha Bandhan and Shri Krishna Janam Ashtami and despite ban the Chinese kite thread is being sold in various areas of the winter capital especially city areas including Pacca Danga.
In contrast to the traditional strings used in India, Chinese thread is made of nylon, with a metal coating giving it extra strength and sharpness, which is a major threat to people and flying nature.
In Jammu, several cases of injury due to Chinese string were reported last year, but despite that, no stern action has been taken against the sellers, who are minting money by playing with the lives of people and birds. There are also instances where birds have fallen to the sharpness of the Chinese thread.
“Commuters are most vulnerable. A slight contact with the thread while on move can cause severe injuries. In some cases, people have received grievous injuries. It is also a big threat to birds,” said a doctor posted in Emergency of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) on the condition of anonymity.
Traditionally, special strings are made for kite flying. It involves a thin cotton thread which is treated with a paste made of glue and finely powdered glass to make it strong.
Ahead of the festive season, hundreds of people from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh set up temporary shops on roadside, in parks and other available space and prepare thousands of meters of cotton thread used for kite flying. These people work for weeks together to provide the thread a cutting edge.
Krishan Lal from Punjab, who is presently in Jammu and use to prepare and sell the thread used for kites, told the EXCELSIOR that, “We are losing business to Chinese thread as it is made using liquid metal. We use wax, crushed glass and pigeon droppings to make the thread strong, so the customers are getting diverted towards Chinese strings”.
During interaction, senior citizens also flayed the Administration and Police Department, which had miserably failed to keep check over sale of banned Chinese dor (thread).
“The celebrations should be made happily and using of Chinese thread by the younger generation can ruin the happiness of a family”, they said and suggested the younger generation to use the traditional thread to fly kites.
Meanwhile, according to police spokesperson, 10 cases have been registered and 12 persons have been arrested for selling banned Chinese thread. Besides this, 1500 rolls of banned Chinese thread have been seized by the police, he added.
He claimed that police is keeping regular check over the sale of the banned thread and will take strict action against the erring traders.
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