Ban on kite flying irks children

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 30

Banning kite flying within two kilometers of the international airport in Mohali did not go down well with children of nearby villages. Children and teenagers at Jheurheri, Safipur and Jagatpura said flying kites during winter vacations was their favourite sport.

“It’s sad that we cannot fly kites during the ongoing winter vacations this time,” said Kuljeet Singh and his teenager friends of Jheurheri village.

Notably, the Mohali administration has banned the flying of kites and fire balloons within two kilometers of the airport from December 29 to February 17.

The ban has been enforced following a communiqué from senior authorities of the civil aviation, in which it was mentioned that due to kites and fire balloons, pilots faced problems while flying planes.

The number of kite fliers increases during Basant Panchmi festival as its is considered auspicious.

“As per tradition, we fly kites on Basant Panchmi but this year we will have to go to our relative’s house at Mohali,” said Ranjit Singh Rana, a resident of Jagatpura.