Fashion show on golf wear
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 21 — They came with golf clubs and golf balls and were attired in golf apparel. Yes, they were students of the Northern India Institute of Fashion Technology, Mohali, taking part in the first fashion show on golf wear. The venue was the third phase of Rock Garden on Monday night.

Senior serving and retired army officers and bureaucrats were aplenty. Then there was amateur national golf champion turned professional Harmeet Kahlon. He had come with his wife. We also spotted north zone women's champion Parnita Garewal and the upcoming 15-year-old Irina Brar, who clinched the Stroh's Cup organised by the Chandigarh Golf Association.

The fashion show was part of the prize distribution ceremony for the Stroh's CGA Cup which concluded on Saturday. But what led to the prize distribution ceremony being shifted from the Chandigarh Golf Club? Obviously it was the fashion show that could not have been allowed on the lawns of a sports club.

The models walked on to the specially erected ramp. As they clip-clopped on to the ramp a round of applause went up. The spectators, most of them golfers, were divided on the golf apparel on display. The compere, Manpreet, did a good job. Among the audience was Rajiv Bali, the Deputy Managing Director of Mount Shivalik Breweries, the main sponsors of the CGA tournament.

The boys and girls came on the stage wearing golf apparel made of cotton yarn. But then there were certain items that had a blend of lyrica.

The golf wear also included caps. The NIIFT has designed the golf apparel and plans to put it up for display at the pro shop of the Chandigarh Golf Club.

The winners and runners-up of the CGA Golf Tournament were given prizes by Mr Sarabjit Singh, DGP, Punjab.

The CGA also gave cash awards to promising city golfers. Those who received Rs 10,000 each were Parnita Garewal, Irina Brar, Sandy Lehal, Guneet Raikhy and Prince Dhillon.

Rs 5000 was given to Shruti Reddy and A Sandhu.

All said and done it was a well organised show for which all credit goes to the Chandigarh Golf Association.

PUDA to allow green space use
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Sept 21 — To check the misuse of open spaces in its urban estates, the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) has decided to allow specific use of "available" green spaces adjoining corner plots. The permission will, however, be subject to certain stringent parameters.

The move to allow the use of green spaces by owners of corner plots has been permitted in residential areas only. The allottee will have to pay 50 per cent of the prevailing market cost of the land — as applicable in the category of the plot concerned. The size of the open spaces adjoining the corner plots varies from site to site.

Sources in PUDA said that as per the decision taken by the authority no construction would be allowed in the area transferred to the plot owner and it would be used for landscaping and for developing kitchen-garden.

To check the misuse of the open spaces, PUDA has made it clear that the allottees would not be allowed to extend the floor area in respect of the open space. The allottee will, however, be allowed to raise a boundary wall of standard size.

The decision to charge cost of the land at the rate of 50 per cent of the prevailing rate of the land could prevent the residents from applying under the scheme, said a PUDA official. At the same time it could encourage them to encroach upon the green spaces by growing hedges or by putting up fences or walls — a common trend which has gone unchecked in this urban estate. The residents demand that the land cost should be a maximum of 10 per cent of the prevailing rate of the land.

By rough estimate the cost of the land would run into thousands of rupees. Sources said that in the township the allotment rates for residential plots of 10-marla size and above was Rs 3,600 per sq yard, for six and eight-marla houses the rate per sq yard was Rs 3,200 per sq yard and for plots below the size of six marla the rate was Rs 2,700 per sq yard.

Another condition for the allotment of the open space was that its width should be less than 30 feet. The condition of the minimum width of 30 feet was agreed upon at the 13th meeting of the Planning and Design Committee of PUDA. The green space, adjoining a 30 feet road, would not be allotted if it hindered traffic movement.

Official of PUDA said each application would have to be examined by a committee comprising an Additional Chief Administrator (ACA), officials of the Town Planning Department, the Estate Officer and Superintending Engineer.

Chinese envoy denounces terrorism
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 21 — China denounces any form of terrorism, national or international, said Mr Zhou Gang, Ambassador of China , at a press conference during a function to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the India-China Friendship Council of Punjab at Panjab University here today.

Mr Gang said that opinions of different countries on terrorism could differ. However, the Ambassador did not specify his view on Pakistani terrorist groups on the international scenario.

Mr Gang said that basic principles of coordination and co operation between different countries were central to the Embassy in India. The line of control, particularly in the North-East, was central to Indo-China cooperation and relation in the present and historical context. Mutual exchange, particularly of technology, had emerged as a key function for the Embassy.

Commenting on Chinese development, Mr Gang said that "China had explored and opened up a new way of building the sociologist cause with Chinese characteristics so as to bring new vitality into the Chinese system. The country had established a basic economic system with public ownership as the backbone."

He said:"From 1952 to 1998 the average growth rate of the GDP in the country rose to as high as 7.7 per cent. China had leapt into the seventh place in industrial development. China has basically solved the problem of providing 1.2 billion people with adequate food, clothing and shelter".

Important headway had been made in strengthening socialist democracy and legal system in China.

China had consistently pursued an independent foreign policy of peace and had brought about a situation favourable for its diplomatic work. China had established ties with 163 countries and maintained economic and trade relation with 227 countries. On principles of peaceful co existence China was trying to establish favourable foreign policy, he added.

Dr Jeewan Tewari, President of the local chapter of the association, underlined the importance of Indo-China relations in a changed world. He dwelled at length on the bright areas for exchange of knowledge which were favourable for national and international growth.