Ludhiana, August 24
In another effort to clean Budha Nullah, officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) visited the city and collected samples of the industrial waste being discharged by 15 large-scale industrial houses. The samples have been taken to evaluate the technology being adopted by the units and offer suggestions to help the nullah stay clean.

VK Goel, chief executive of Vardhman Spinning and Textiles, said after a meeting with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Chandigarh on August 9, the officials from the board had visited the city.

“The team had come to assess whether the effluent treatment plants (ETPs) installed by the large-scale units were good enough to treat the water. They took samples of both treated and untreated waste from about 15 units. The samples were taken yesterday and today by a four-member team. The entire industry would adhere to the norms suggested by the pollution control board. Officials would take about 15 days to submit a report,” Goel said.

The industry at Ludhiana has always been in trouble for discharging toxic effluent into the nullah. Though the industry claims to be treating water before discharging it into the nullah, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has put the condition of zero discharge, to which the industry is not agreeing.

Ashok Makkar, president of the Tajpur Road Dyeing Association, said no local industry was ready to install zero-discharge treatment plant as it was not viable. The cost of the plant was 12-13 times higher than a regular effluent treatment plant.

“We all have installed our own plants with the latest technology. We are ready to cooperate with the officials of the CPCB. They can take samples anytime. If the government has taken up the issue of cleaning the nullah so seriously, we are with it and would extend our support. It would have been better if the Punjab government had installed a common treatment plant for the disposal of industrial waste. The local industry had been demanding such a treatment plant for long,” he added.

Ludhiana, August 24
Commuters are organising themselves for tomorrow when autorickshaws would stay off the roads in protest against the non-renewal of permits by the district transport office.

Autorickshaw drivers today asked parents of schoolchildren to make alternative arrangements for tomorrow.

The auto owners said the DTO had refused to renew the permits of diesel-run autorickshaws following the High Court’s orders. They said the HC had directed the transport department not to register diesel-run autos and buses to check pollution in the city.

‘‘This does not mean that they would not renew the permits of old three-wheelers. They have misinterpreted the court’s orders. Hence, we are protesting,” Madan Lal Bhumbak, union leader of autorickshaws’ union, stated.

As per a rough estimate, there are about 25,000 autorickshaws in the city. A small faction of drivers has refused to listen to the union’s call and would continue to ply their autos.

“I do not know how I will travel. I may have to walk down to office,” said Rama, a bank employee.

Harminder Pal Singh, a resident, said he would have to wake up at 6 am tomorrow to drop his son at school. “I would also have to fetch him in the afternoon,” he said. 

Ludhiana, August 24
The municipal corporation seems to have lost its grip over the city as town planning officials succumbed to political pressure yet again and suspended a demolition drive at Punjab Mata Nagar on the Pakhowal road here today.

After “directions” from councillor Tanveer Singh Dhaliwal, the MC squad, equipped with JCB machines and police, could do nothing about the encroachments when they went there at around 11.30 am.

Again when the MC officials went to raze the structures in the afternoon, it was merely a “formality” as only some walls were partially damaged.

It is for the fourth time that the MC town planning squad went for a demolition drive, but returned without success.

Today’s incident has again highlighted the weakness of the MC in tackling tough situations. It easily removes kiosks and shanties, but always leaves structures with political patronage untouched.

According to information, following the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to demolish encroachments mushrooming in the city, MC officials, including STP BS Brar, ATP Ramesh Chabbra and ATP SS Bindra, had gone to the site.

Area councillor Dhaliwal, who had come to the rescue of the encroachers, said the civic body was focusing only on his ward even as encroachments were to be seen everywhere. He had heated arguments with the MC officials.

The MC has admitted that there are more than 6,000 encroachments and if it fails to do anything, it would only encourage encroachers.

Doraha, August 24
Doraha and Sahnewal towns are apparently heading towards an epidemic disaster. Thanks to the callous attitude of the councils, which are entirely oblivious of the calamity that can engulf these towns any moment if the current environment is allowed to prevail.

At Sahnewal, months pass but no sweeper or sanitary official bothers to take pains to visit, especially, some particular wards of the town, as a result the residents are forced to put up with filth, squalor, sewer and disease all around.

The sewer water not only floods the streets, but also enters the houses of the residents, thus making the situation all the more deplorable. The drainage system gets choked to such an extent that even a small spell of rain leaves the condition of streets and houses miserable.

Even in normal conditions the streets turn into a pool of filthy garbage water. The streets are already narrow and the constant water accumulation has only helped in multiplying the problems of the people.

A resident of New Colony rued that this is not for the first time that they are encountering such a problem. It has been for years together. And now the situation has gone out of control, as the foul smell emitted out of the sewer water is unbearable.

Another resident complained that the nagar council has been informed about the deplorably unhygienic conditions of this colony, but no remedial measure seems to be yet in sight.

The sorry state of affairs is revealed from the fact that huge heaps of garbage waste remains collected in the corners of streets, but seldom has any cleanliness drive been launched in this forsaken town.

At Doraha, too, the garbage is picked up only to be dumped on the roads and streets. The residents of the area allege that the council has practically no place for dumping this waste.

The residents of Mangat Street, Kaushal street and Boparai street are passing through testing times as the dingy condition in which they are forced to live makes them vulnerable to various water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, jaundice, typhoid etc.

The fear of swine flu, too, looms on their heads in the wake of such telling conditions. The very sight of pigs is enough to raise fear in their minds.

The government issues clear instructions to the councils and the committees to launch various health awareness and cleanliness drives from time to time, but the residents are forced to pay for the negligence on the part of the administration.

Ludhiana, August 24
Irked over the dilly dallying tactics of the Punjab government in implementing the recommendations of the 5th pay commission, the Punjab Civil Medical Services (PCMS) doctors from all over the district today staged a protest rally in front of the civil surgeon’s office. The rally was staged on the call given by the state unit of PCMS Association.

PCMS state president Dr Hardeep Singh along with other doctors submitted a memorandum to Civil Surgeon Dr Maninderjeet Singh.

Raising slogans against the highhanded attitude of the state government for the recent lathi- charge on junior doctors in Amritsar, the PCMS doctors called upon the government to give into the genuine demands of the professionals. The association plans to launch a statewide agitation if the government fails to implement 5th pay commissions recommendations in toto.

While addressing the rally, Dr Hardeep Singh, state president of the PCMS Association said the Punjab government had failed to keep its promise of providing ‘pay parity of doctors of Punjab with their Central counterparts’. He said the junior doctors too were at a loss of almost Rs 10,000 per month while doctors with 20 years of service were being denied dynamic assured career progression. Similarly, the provision of separate pay scale for specialist doctors and senior PCMS doctors with promotional posts has not been implemented.

Dr Balwinder Kumar, district secretary of the association, demanded immediate notification of the recommendations of 5th pay commission in toto. He alleged that a few officials in the finance department were biased and discriminatory towards PCMS doctors. “These officials, by ignoring all orders of Punjab government are conspiring to further delay the pay hike by creating confusions with reference to non-practiticing allowance for doctors which is 25 per cent and it is important for pay fixation, being part of basic pay for all purposes.” 

Ludhiana, August 24
The farming community in the state, which has been grappling with acute shortage of power for the paddy crop, has found an ally in the employees of the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB), who took the board management and specifically Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to task charging them with utter failure to provide adequate power to the farmers.

Addressing a rally, organised in response to a call given by the PSEB Employees Federation (AITUC) at the Estate Division today, the trade union leaders maintained that the government had miserably failed to safeguard the interests of farmers, as well as the PSEB employees, who were under a constant threat of unbundling.

“The government, having failed to discharge its constitutional responsibility to make available much needed electricity to farmers and other sections of the people in Punjab, is now trying to disband the PSEB in order to shift the blame,” the speakers at the rally said.

The PSEB management also came under fire over the revision of pay scales, which had been delayed for unknown reasons. The speakers apprehended that under the garb of wage formulation committee, the PSEB management was making attempts to revise the pay scales in an arbitrary manner. They further announced that the employees would hold a state-level dharna in Patiala on September 11, followed by two-day strike on September 14 and 15 as a part of their struggle to achieve justice.

Ludhiana, August 24
Employees of the Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) have urged the state government to immediately increase the bus fare as the corporation was finding it hard to pay the employees’ salary as well as the taxes to the government. The bus fare had not been revised in Punjab since July 1998, even though the prices of diesel had increased manifolds. In such circumstances, the corporation will not be able to meet the day today expenses, feel the employees.

Ramesh Bhatti, president, PRTC Employees Union (INTUC), said the management of the corporation was constantly taking up the matter with the state government for increasing the bus fare but nothing had been done so far. There were apprehensions that if the bus fares were not revised, the corporation will not be able to pay the salary, wages and pension to its employees. “Thus, we request the state government to come to the rescue of PRTC by increasing the bus fares”, added Bhatti.

Meanwhile, the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) has condemned the anti-employee policies of the state government. Suresh Sood, general secretary, INTUC, Ludhiana, said the Chief Minister was not doing anything for the welfare of employees. Neither their retirement age was increased nor were they re-employed after retirement. Their (employees) arrears hang in balance, as recommendations of the fifth pay commission had not been implemented. He said the neighbouring states had increased the retirement age of employees but in Punjab, the government was giving mere assurances.

Ludhiana, August 24
The department of dermatology, Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), Ludhiana, organised a continuing medical education (CME) programme on paediatric dermatology in hospital auditorium.

Dr Abraham G Thomas, director, CMC, was the chief guest and Dr Vikram Sood, president of the Indian Association of Dermatology Virology and Heprology, Punjab, HP chapter, was the guest of honour.

Eminent national speakers in the field of paediatric dermatology, including Dr Rajeev Sharma, president of the Indian Society of Paediatric Dermatology, Dr DM Thappa, professor and head, JIPMER, Pondicherry, Dr Alka Dogra, head of department of dermatology, DMCH, along with various other speakers, delivered the guest lectures on common dermatological conditions in children and approach to their management.

Mullanpur Dakha, August 24
The farm accident victims are a harassed lot as about 20 cases are stuck in the SDM Ludhiana (West) office for more than 18 months. These cases were earlier passed and recommended by the local market committee officer.

The Punjab government has set a provision for paying some amount to the victims in order to assist them in their rehabilitation. In case of death, the family gets Rs 1 lakh. In case of amputation of one hand or leg, the victim gets Rs 40,000 and Rs 10,000 per finger up to three fingers. The cases have to pass through different tables to get matured. The Market committee sends these cases to the SDM office. The SDM, through the naib tehsildar, get the cases verified from the local patwaris and then give the final nod to the market committee officials to make the payment to the victim or his family (in case of death).

The Dakha market committee got 31 cases, including 12 death cases. Out of this it has sent four deaths and seven amputations of organs cases to the SDM since January 2008 worth about Rs 10.8 lakh

The families of the victims are given dispatch numbers of their case by the committee office employees and send them to the SDM where the officials dismiss their request by telling them that the case has not been sent to them.

Gurjeet Singh, a former sarpanch of Bhattian village, had one hand lost his son Jaswant Singh last year who died due to poisoning while spraying pesticides in the fields. He is also being harassed in various offices due to the non-payment of his claims. Similarly Avtar Singh of Rajeana died more than 18 months ago and his father Amar Singh is still waiting for his claim. The case of death of Avtar Singh of Raqba village, Dilbagh Singh of Leel village, Sandeep Kumar, Gurcharan Singh of Hissowal village, Bablu Kumar of Purain village is still pending. Besides this five death cases and 16 amputation cases of vital organs are also pending.

Maghar Singh Braich, chairman, Dakha Market Committee, expressed his inability for speeding up the compensation cases as he said they could only recommend the cases to SDM. 

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 24
Residents of Saharan Majra, small hamlet, have been remembering this IAF hero for the past 39 years, but a befitting memorial promised by IAF authorities in the memory of late Flying Officer Kuldeep Singh Johal is yet to see the light of the day.

A villager had even donated a piece of land for erecting the memorial for their hero, who had chosen to get charred to death in a plane that was bound to crash instead of ejecting from it to save the villagers on August 21, 1970.

Since then, the villagers have been unfailingly commemorating his supreme sacrifice to save scores of others. Like every year, this year, too, the villagers organised an Akhand path in his memory. The bhog was organised yesterday.

But this time love for their hero was accompanied by disappointment as not a single leader or IAF officers attended the function. Neither any efforts were made to erect a memorial as promised by a few IAF officers three years ago.

During the 2006 function, Sqn Ldr Piyush Dhawan from the Halwara Air Force Station while paying floral tributes to the martyr on behalf of the Air Officer Commanding and his staff had announced from the dais that his unit would ensure that the sacrifice of the great hero gets documented.

Responding to a demand made by the villagers and the Pandher Sports Club, Sqn Ldr Dhawan had said he would take up the matter with Air Commodore of the air base. He had categorically stated that the late pilot had taken off his last sortie from their base and it was both a prerogative and duty of the station to perpetuate his memory forever.

“Jaswinder Kaur, a villager, had especially kept a piece of land where the plane plunged after crash. But nobody has come to even have a look at this. Though officials visited the place on numerous occasions but did nothing for erecting the memorial,” said Rajinder Singh Mehtu one of the organisers.

It was on August 21, Rakhi day, that Johal had sacrificed his life. When he took off form Halwara, his plane developed a technical snag while it was flying over the Saharan Majra village.

Even though the officer had an opportunity to bale himself out he decided to sacrifice his life on seeing that he was flying over a residential area. He wanted to save the village and maneuvered the plane away from the area. A huge blast took place in his plane and he could not survive the crash. 

Ludhiana, August 24
The 31st Prof Mohan Singh Mela will be held at Ahar-Kunt village in Hoshiarpur district from October 19 to 21.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the local unit of the Prof Mohan Singh Foundation and the International Punjabi Culture Society, Sham Churasi, which met under the chairmanship of Jagdev Singh Jassowal here on Saturday.

Jassowal, chairman of the foundation, said: “For the first time, the mela proceedings will be telecast live on TV and will also be broadcast on radio. The first day will witness a seminar on the literary aspects, followed by a kavi darbar and plays in the evening. The evening will also witness a programme of Sufi singing.”

He said the Sham Churasi gharana had a special name in the world of music and the evening of Sufi music would be dedicated to Ustad Nazakat Ali-Salamat Ali.Gurbhajan Sill, general secretary of the foundation, said: “This is the birth centenary year of principal Sant Singh Sekhon, Davinder Satyarthi and principal Sujan Singh, so the fair will pay a homage to the leading lights in their respective fields along with Prof Mohan Singh.”

Chairman Gurmeet Singh Khanpuri and Prof Nirmal Jaura said: “The fair was an effort to store the treasure of traditional music, dances, songs and literature.”

Ludhiana, August 24
BVM Senior Secondary School, Kitchlu Nagar, today won the Ludhiana city finals of Limca Book of Records Quiz, 2009, held at BCM Arya Model Sr Sec School, Ludhiana. The young geniuses from the winning school in Ludhiana would now compete with the winners from 74 other schools in the semi-finals.

Sacred Heart Convent School and KVM School, Civil Lines, emerged as the 1st and 2nd runners up, respectively, during the Ludhiana city final of the national quiz. Around 288 students from 48 schools participated from Ludhiana.

DP Singh, senior vice-president from Ludhiana Beverages Pvt Ltd, (franchise partner of Coca-Cola India), along with Limca Book of Records holders, presented the award to the winners of Ludhiana city finals.

Ludhiana, August 24
A three-member team from Canada comprising Dr Mark G Fortin, assistant deputy minister, research branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AA-FC), Ottawa, Dr SD Morgan Jones, director general, Science Partnerships, AA-FC, Alberta, Canada, and Yvon A Martel, chief scientist, AA-FC, Ottawa, Canada, visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today to explore areas of collaboration.

The team had an interactive session with the PAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Manjit Singh Kang, wherein Dr PS Minhas, director of research, Dr DS Dhillon, officiating director of extension education, Dr RK Mahey, registrar, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, additional director communication, and Dr SS Gosal, additional director research (agriculture), also participated.

Dr Kang gave an overview of agricultural development scenario in Punjab and traced the cropping pattern shift that took place over the years. He apprised the visitors about the currently prevailing ecological and socio-economic problems.

“Biotechnology research has been strengthened and MSc programme was initiated last year and PhD programme this year,” said Dr Kang.

Dr Kang said the PAU had modified its research and education agenda following the need-based road map for agricultural development formulated by it. He added that biotechnology, nanotechnology, precision agriculture, vegetable crops, microbiology, bio-pesticides would be given a renewed focus. He said agricultural meteorology would be strengthened as a discipline in the wake of global warming hovering over agriculture.

Dr Kang said the PAU research lays a focus on natural resource management, need-based farm mechanisation and human resource development through short-term and long-term sandwich programmes.

“We have come to the PAU to explore areas of collaboration,” said Dr Mark Fortin, adding that they were aware about the role of the university in the direction of food security in Asia.

Martel spelt out his specific interest in biotechnology, germ plasm sharing and research in mutually beneficial areas, including international linkages for scientific exchange, addressing the problem of UG 99 race of wheat rust, climate change, plant protection, biomass-based products and non-conventional energy sources. Dr Jones discussed the role of dairy in Punjab agriculture and the processing of farm produce.

The team visited School of Agricultural Biotechnology, departments of plant breeding and genetics, farm machinery and power engineering, School of Energy Studies in Agriculture, Food Science and Technology, Electron Microscopy and Nano Science Lab and College of Home Science, where they had interaction with scientists regarding the ongoing research programmes and the possible areas where collaboration could be arrived at.

Dr BS Ahloowalia, internationally renowned agricultural scientist from Vienna, Austria and Jung Bahadur Singh Sanga, member, PAU board of management, interacted with the visiting delegates.

Later, the team visited Museum of Social History of Rural Punjab on the PAU campus. They were presented with a souvenir and information brochure about the PAU by Dr Kang.

Gurbans Sobti, an official from Consulate General of Canada, coordinated the visit.

Ludhiana, August 24
A panel of three agricultural scientists — Dr Brenda Ortiz, grain crops and precision agriculture extension specialist and assistant professor, Kathy Flanders, extension entomologist and Ayanava Majumdar, extension specialist, entomologist agronomic crops — from Auburn University, Alabama, US, visited Punjab Agricultural University today.

In their meeting with PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Manjit Singh Kang, they interacted on diverse issues concerning Indian agriculture in general and Punjab agriculture in particular. Those who took part in the interactive meeting included Dr DS Dhillon, officiating director of extension education, Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, additional director communication and Dr PPS Lubana, director, students’ welfare-cum-head of the department of soil and water engineering.

Welcoming the team, Dr Kang provided an overview about the developmental course and ongoing programmes of agricultural research education and technology transfer at PAU. He said PAU has slated a programme for the national food security of India.

He emphasised that PAU is the only agricultural university in Punjab and that, although a small state with 1.53 per cent of the geographic area of the country, the state has the credit of producing 60-70 per cent wheat and 40-50 per cent rice for the central pool of food grains reserves and over 22 per cent wheat, 12 per cent rice, 26 per cent honey, 10 per cent cotton and 50 per cent mushrooms of the country.

This was possible due to the technologies and varieties developed and popularised by PAU, said Dr Kang.

PAU registrar Dr RK Mahey discussed the administrative setup of the university with the delegates. Dr Lubana apprised them about the students’ facilities at PAU. The team was shown around one of the boys’ hostels on the university campus. They also visited Dr MS Randhawa Library.

The team will visit the plant clinic in the directorate of extension education tomorrow and will be taken to some krishi vigyan kendras, research station of PAU and the fields of some progressive farmers.

The team has shown interest in visiting the facilities and ongoing programmes on agriculture meteorology, site-specific management zone techniques for precision input application in rice-wheat, IPM programmes, virus/ vector/ disease experiments, grain storage, organic farming, vegetable production, pest management in citrus, decision support systems, remote sensing, simulation models, etc.

The visiting scientists will interact with the heads of research departments of PAU on these issues on August 26. They will make a presentation to highlight the programmes being carried out by them, followed by a visit to interesting laboratories on August 27.

Ludhiana, August 24
Government schools regret that their meritorious students could not get admission to government colleges here due to the policies of the Punjab School Education Board and the Panjab University. Those who could make it to government colleges belong to the reserved category.

Anoop Passi, a lecturer at a government school, said Punjab board question papers were subjective while the CBSE ones were largely objective. He said they had raised the issue with the board, but it had said there would be no change in policy.

CBSE students secured more than 90 per cent whereas government school students secured 80 to 85 per cent. Good students of government schools went to CBSE schools after passing out from Class X with a high score.

Also, Punjab board students faced problems during admission to BCom as CBSE students scored more than 90 or 95 per cent (when 16 per cent is added according to university norms) top the merit list. However, Punjab board students were given only 12 per cent. RK Miglani, head of the commerce department, SCD Government College for Boys, said they had six students in the general category and 20 in the SC category from the Punjab board. They had given 16 per cent weightage to Punjab students. The only difference was that the 85-87 per cent was their highest score and the merit list of colleges was above 85 per cent.

Gurpreet Kaur, head of commerce department, Government College for Women, said they had sent a representation to the university to change norms for these students.

“It’s only today that a girl student, topper of Punjab board with 90 percent, has been able to get admission and that too when the university has increased 5 per cent seats after the admissions were over,” she said.

Ludhiana, August 24
Lakme Fashion Week in collaboration with International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD) will be organising an exclusive workshop every season in Mumbai.

This year the workshop will be held on August 27 in Mumbai.

Students of the INIFD will deal with various queries of buyers during the workshop. Top models will be displaying their designs.

Lakme Fashion Week has signed the INIFD as its official partner for the next four seasons starting this September.

About 20 students from the INIFD will be permitted every season to submit their designs for approval of the board of fashion week and selected students will present their creations in generation next category, along with top designers, during Lakme Fashion Week.

Students of the INIFD will get a chance to interact and exchange their ideas with renowned designers during the workshop.

Ludhiana, August 24
Green Land Senior Secondary School, Jalandhar, made a clean sweep in the girls’ section of the Inter-School District Chess Championship being organised by the district education department at Bhartiya Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Udham Singh Nagar, here today.

Girls of Green Land School stamped their class by emerging winners in the under-14, under-17 and under-19 categories.

In the under-19 category, Green Land School bagged title, followed by Kundan Vidya Mandir and Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, which secured second and third positions, respectively.

In the under-17 category, Green Land School came out winners, while Government Senior Secondary School, Cemtery Road, finished runner-up and Sargodha School secured the third position.

Similarly, in the under-14 category, Green Land School wrested top honours and Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, had to be satisfied with second spot, while hosts, BVM, Udham Singh Nagar, secured the third position.

Sunil Aroa, principal, BVM, Udham Singh Nagar branch distributed prizes.

Baljeet Singh Gill, director, sports of the host school, was present on this occasion.

Ludhiana, August 24
Dharminder Lilly of Jalandhar overpowered his opponents to romp home as champion in the Punjab Open Snooker Tournament which concluded at Sutlej Club, here last evening.

In the semifinal league, Dharminder overcame stiff resistance from Aayush Kumar and Vivek Chopra 4-3 and scripted a comfortable victory over Dhruv Verma 4-0 to retain the title.

Local lad, Dhruv Verma finished runner-up.

DS Bains, principal secretary, Punjab, was the chief guest. Vikas Garg, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, and GS Ghumman, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, were also present there on this occasion.

Arjuna awardee Alok Kumare said top two players from each sub-juniors, juniors and seniors categories will represent Punjab in the forthcoming National Billiards and Snooker Championship to be held in Agra from September 14 to October 4 and all their expenses would be borne by the association.

Mandi Ahmedgarh, August 24
Recognising his contribution in highlighting problems of sportspersons and organisations engaged in promotion of sports in rural areas of this part of Malwa, the Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, Chandigarh, conferred the Maneet Kanwar Memorial Sport Journalism Award on Sukhbir Singh Grewal, a sports journalist from Kilaraipur village, near here.

The award, consisting of a citation and a shawl, was presented to Grewal at a function organised at Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna Hall, Chandigarh, yesterday.

Acknowledging gesture of the organisers, Grewal maintained that he would put more effort to continue his pursuit in rural sports journalism in the state.

The award constituted in memory of Maneet Kanwar, a sports journalist of the Sahara channel, after his death two years ago, is presented to some outstanding sports reporter every year.

Grewal, a teacher by profession, has been writing in field of sports for many years. He has been writing sports for the Punjabi Tribune, besides acting as a freelance reporter.

Kendri Lekhak Sabha president Anoop Singh Virak, Punjabi Lekhak Sabha president Dr Labh Singh Kheewa, Manohan Singh Daun and Mohan Bhandari from Ahmedgarh praised Grewal for his contributions in the field.