Mizoram to introduce bill to regulate firecrackers and sky lanterns during festive season

Aizawl: The Mizoram government will introduce a bill to regulate and control the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials during the festive season, an official said on Friday.

The official said that a meeting of key officials, senior police officers, and civil society organisations, chaired by Home Minister K. Sapdanga on Thursday, decided to introduce “The Mizoram Firecrackers (Regulation & Control) Bill, 2025” in the next budget session.

The bill could not be legislated and implemented during the coming festive season due to time constraints.

He said the government will also ban firecrackers, sky lanterns, and other pyrotechnic materials during the upcoming festive season.

Thursday’s meeting decided that the current year’s festive season will be declared the “Year of awareness campaign on the harmful effects of firecrackers”, and that massive awareness campaigns will be carried out across the state, he said.

It was also decided that all government employees, security forces, merchants, members of the Young Mizo Association (YMA), church members, and online marketing agencies will be asked, through their respective departments or organisations, to comply with the prohibitory orders on importing, selling, buying, or using firecrackers, sky lanterns, and other pyrotechnic materials during the festive season, he said.

The meeting further decided that the state police, magistrates, local councils, and the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) will work together to ensure that the prohibitory orders are strictly followed by the public, the official said.

In the past too, Mizoram has banned firecrackers, sky lanterns, and other pyrotechnic materials, including toy guns, during the festive season to prevent pollution and to preserve the sanctity of Christmas and New Year.

Similarly, firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials were banned during festivals of other religious communities in the state.

Mizoram is preparing for grand celebrations of Christmas and New Year this year.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Coordination Committee on Traffic Management, chaired by state Chief Secretary Khilli Ram Meena on Tuesday, decided that a ‘no vehicle zone’ will be enforced in busy areas of Aizawl on December 23, 24, and 31 to ease public movement during pre-Christmas and New Year shopping.

The stretch between Chanmari and Zodin Square, covering about 3 km and housing major shopping complexes, will be declared a ‘no vehicle zone’ on these days from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The government has also announced attractive cash prizes for the best street decorations to ensure that all streets in Aizawl look vibrant during the festive season.