meerut days after animal activists in the city raised a hue and cry over banning the chinese manja the district magistrate ordered a ban on the same in the city the chinese manja strings used for kite flying poses a major threat to birds often causing them injuries or killing them the strings are made of metallic or nylon yarn with an abrasive coat of crushed glass gummed on to it making it razor sharp and nonbiodegradable the decision assumes significance as the festival of vasant panchami is just around the corner on january 24 when kites are flown the district administration has also ordered a crackdown on the sale of the chinese manja district magistrate pankaj yadav in a letter stated in the backdrop of the letter requesting the ban on chinese manja by anshumali vasishtha founder secretary animal care society its sale will be prohibited in the city the letter adds the additional district magistrate city should take stringent measures to stop its sale so that no birds are harmed before and on vasant panchami a crackdown on the sale will also be done when toi contacted dm pankaj yadav he said prohibition orders are issued under section 144 crpc wherein powers have been conferred on an executive magistrate to deal with emergent situation by which the ban is imposed anshumali vasishtha said i am glad that the district administration acted on my request and a check will be kept on people who indulge in the sale of chinese manja i just hope the rule is implemented well though animal activists like vasishtha heaved a sigh of relief rajat bhargava an ornithologist and a former agriculturist had something else to offer he said india has the best wildlife laws in the country but hardly at the grassroots level how will the ban be implemented on the ground level is the biggest challenge advising the city residents to become a part of the positive initiative of the district administration bhargava said though the order has come at the right time the matter of challenge is how it will be implemented on the ground level i request with folded hands that the city residents should be a little aware on their part as well and avoid flying kites before 8am and after 430pm that is the time when maximum birds are flying in the air thereby they will not be injured bhargava said if the city residents find any injured bird they should take it to the bird hospital