Congman holds PMC responsible for promoting gambling at handloom fair

The administration was clearly on the defensive and Additional Municipal Commissioner (Special) Arun Pardeshi assured the elected representatives of initiating “immediate action” against the fair organisers “if they were indulging in objectionable activities”.

Balgude criticised the administration for letting out the sports ground for non-sports activities. “Why not give us permission to conduct non-sports activities? We too would ensure that the PMC gains maximum revenue in return,” he said. Earlier, replying to a query raised by Congressman Vilas Wadekar,Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal clarified that though the State Government had issued directives disallowing the use of sports grounds for other activities, the High Court had ruled that the PMC allow fairs and other recreational activities since the Sanas Sports ground was not being utilised for sports.

The PMC had collected Rs 6.5 lakh from the organisers of the fair before letting out a portion of the sports ground admeasuring 2,47,800 square feet from April 5, 1998 till June 15, 1998, Agarwal said. But senior corporators Ulhas Dhole-Patil and Abhay Chhajed came down heavily on the administration for what they termed “misuse” of a prime sports ground. Chhajed asked that only sports-related activities be held at the Sanas sports ground since the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was to be reserved for international and first class cricket tournaments.