Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Hyderabad Forest Chief Orders Action Against Synthetic Manja Sellers
Forest Chief Vinay Kumar wants officials in Hyderabad to stop shops from selling synthetic kite string called manja.
He told them to watch for supplies coming from Rajasthan and Gujarat and for illegal sales on websites.
Shops that break the rules may face action to cancel their licences.
Posters and school lessons should help people learn how this string can harm people and birds.
It must not be used at this year’s Tourism Department kite festival.
If officials find it there, they should take it away.
Officials should also stop Indian rollers from being kept in cages at Durga pandals and temples.
Different departments are being asked to work together to protect wildlife.
Forest Chief Vinay Kumar directed officials to seek licence cancellations for shops selling prohibited synthetic manja.
Officials were told to monitor supplies from Rajasthan and Gujarat and online sales of synthetic or Chinese manja.
Public posters and school outreach are planned to explain the risks to people and birds.
Synthetic manja is prohibited at this year’s Tourism Department kite festival, and any found must be confiscated.
Officials were directed to prevent Indian rollers from being caged at Durga pandals and temples and to coordinate wildlife protection.
- Who
- Head of Forest Force Vinay Kumar and officials from several government departments.
- What
- A coordinated effort to curb synthetic manja sales and use and protect Indian rollers and other wildlife.
- When
- At a review meeting on Friday; the instructions also apply to this year’s kite festival.
- Where
- Aranya Bhavan in Hyderabad, with measures covering shops, online platforms, public places, the kite festival, Durga pandals and temples.
- Why
- To enforce the prohibition on synthetic manja, address risks to people and birds, and protect wildlife.
- Official leading the effort
- Vinay Kumar, Head of Forest Force
- Meeting venue
- Aranya Bhavan, Hyderabad
- Supplies under surveillance
- Rajasthan and Gujarat
- Online monitoring
- Police were asked to monitor e-commerce platforms for illegal sales.
- Shop enforcement
- Officials were directed to initiate action to cancel licences of shops selling prohibited synthetic manja.
- Kite festival
- Synthetic manja is not to be allowed at this year’s Tourism Department festival; any found should be confiscated.
- Wildlife protection
- Officials were told to prevent Indian rollers from being caged at Durga pandals and temples.
