PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haridwar
Haridwar municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar has directed officials of the Municipal Corporation of Haridwar (MCH) to ensure strict action against the storage, sale and use of Chinese Manjha and other synthetic kite strings.
Chairing a review meeting, Kumar said that glass-coated strings along with plastic and nylon kite strings do not only cause fatal accidents and damage but are also a major source of littering and plastic contamination in the city. Synthetic strings do not decompose for a long time and after use, get stuck on poles, trees and other places, affecting the appearance and sanitation of the city. In drains, such strings hamper the flow and increase the problem of water logging, stench and unsanitary conditions. Animals and birds are also injured by such kite strings. He directed officials to take strict action against the storage, sale and use of such kite strings. All sanitation inspectors were directed to link the seizure of Chinese Manjha to the campaign being undertaken to control plastic waste and littering in the city.
Kumar further said that those found littering should be penalised, a strict campaign should be undertaken against prohibited plastic, kite strings hanging in public places should be removed and awareness should be ensured among the public on these issues. He also laid emphasis on actions at the ground level for the coming Swachchh Survekshan. Stating that cleanliness, plastic control and public safety are inter-connected, he said that these should be addressed together.
