PUNE Sandip Dighe, a special correspondent with The Times of India, Pune, was presented with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in the Prakash Kardaley Memorial Award for Civic Journalism category on Friday.Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan presented the award to Dighe for the year 2024 at a function in New Delhi. Dighe received the award for his extensive reportage in 2024 on irregularities in Old Grant Bungalows in the Pune and Khadki cantonment board areas.His reports highlighted discrepancies like the use of these residential properties for commercial activities, unauthorized constructions and, in some cases, the sale of bungalows to builders, violating orders for a no-objection certificate from the competent defence authority. He also reported on several civic issues afflicting both cantonment areas.The series of reports drew the attention of the Directorate General of Defence Estates, the state Inspector General of Registration, and Army authorities who then took appropriate action to stop such transactions.
