State Govt. Announces Cash Rewards For Good Samaritans

• Aid Award. The state home department has announced that it will give cash rewards to good Samaritans who help road accident victims, especially in the crucial first hour after the mishap. Depending on the level of help, a person or institution—whose eligibility for the reward will be determined with the aid of the local police station—will be given Rs50,000, Rs1 lakh or Rs1.5 lakh. People who help accident victims will not be required to repeatedly visit courts and need only record their statement at the police station, said home minister R. R. Patil, who added that he also plans to increase the fines for traffic violations such as lane cutting and drinking and driving. [Hindustan Times]

• Bad Bread. According to a survey conducted by the BMC’s Public Health Department over the past 50 days, 127 out of the city’s 648 bakeries, or one in five, do not possess the required licences to operate, the majority of them located in Kurla and Malad. The civic body also plans to launch Investigative Reports for 328 of the remaining 521 licenced bakeries. “There are certain standards stipulated by the Fire Department such as maintaining water hydrants, fire extinguishers and buckets of sand before issuing a no-objection certificate,” said a PHD official. “We convey these to the bakeries and if they do not comply we conduct an IR against them.” An investigation could also be instituted against bakeries violating environmental norms as “some bakeries may be emitting hazardous smoke into the atmosphere”. [The Indian Express]

• Flight Risk. Over the last couple of years, more than 1,200 radio-controlled toy planes and helicopters have been confiscated from passengers by Customs officials at Mumbai airport, after a notification was issued by the ministry of Communications and Information Technology that the toys, especially those made in China, violate the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act of 1933, and can compromise frequency bands used by security agencies. “There were also security concerns—that the toys could carry small improvised explosive devices for terror attacks,” said a senior Customs officer. “Unless owners are carrying a no-objection certificate, we seize these toys.” The NOC can be acquired from the office of the Joint Wireless Advisor, Regional Licencing Officer (West) in Borivali. [The Indian Express]