Preparations start to celebrate ‘Basant’ on Mar 10 despite ban

Despite a ban on kite flying, preparations have started to celebrate ‘Basant’ in city areas on March 10 night and Mar 11 (Friday).

Aerial firing, use of chemical kite flying strings and parties are also expected during the Basant celebrations.

Sale of kites and illegal thread is going on secretly in the towns particularly Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Adiala Road, Dhoke Syedan, Adra, Bakra Mandi, Lal Kurti, Sarafa Bazaar, Old Qila, Jamia Masjid Road, Committee Chowk and many other parts of the city.

The residents have expressed concerns over kite flying and use of metal strings, banned by the city administration, adding that such violation was a question mark on the performance of the officials.

The citizens said that kite flying could lead to traffic accidents. They demanded of the authorities concerned to strictly implement the ban of kite flying which may take lives of innocent citizens.

Though, City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi had declared that Station House Officers (SHOs) will be held accountable for the violation of the ban on kite flying here in their respective areas.

Police claimed to have set up special Observation Posts (OPs) on high-rise buildings in the town particularly in congested areas aimed at controlling kite flying and aerial firing.

According to Rawalpindi police spokesman, the policemen deployed at the posts have also been provided night vision goggles.

He informed that CPO has urged the parents to come forward and play a role to control their children from kite flying which is a dangerous game.

He said, police on the special directive of CPO is conducting raids in different areas and netting the rules violators besides recovering kites and string rolls.

He claimed, police have recovered over 100,000 kites and thousands kite flying string rolls from the possession of the rules violators during last two months.

He said, the raids would continue to ensure implementation on the law of ban on kite flying. Strict action in accordance with the law would be taken against the rules violators, he added.