CUTTACK: THE District administration has identified 10 locations for flying kites in the Millennium City. The administration’s move came in response to the recent direction of the High Court. The places identified in the city are Baliyatra ground on Mahanadi river bed, Kathajodi river bed, Sunshine Ground, Khannagar Park, Biju Patnaik Park in CDA, OMP Playground, open grounds near Pota Pokhari, Pancha Mukhi Hanuman temple, Bidanasi and Naraj helipad.
Following death of a six-year-old girl whose neck was slit by a kite thread coated with crushed glass gum near Telengapentha, the High Court had directed to ban use of Chinese Manjha or any other thread of nylon or plastic coated with crushed glass gum for flying kites.
“In response to the High Court order, instruction has been given to not only ensure the ban but also prohibit procuring, storing and selling of such harmful threads completely,” said Cuttack Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra.
A special squad headed by the Sub-Collector has been formed to conduct drive against flying kites in public places and sale of harmful threads in the city. Direction has also been given to take stringent action against the violators, Mishra said and added that there is no restriction on flying kites by using cotton thread at the identified places.