``Has the administration granted permission to gambling at the Sanas Sports Ground ?,'' Balgude queried even while revealing to the meeting that games like ``striker,'' which amount to gambling, were being conducted at the 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 organisers of the fair 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, even we would ensure that the PMC gains maximum revenue in return.''

Earlier, replying to a query raised by Congressman Vilas Wadekar, Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal clarified that although the State Government had issued directives that the municipal sports grounds should not be let out for any other purposes than sports or sports related 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 purpose.

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 cornered the administration for what they termed as ``misuse'' of a prime sports ground without taking the general body into confidence.

Chhajed pressed for holding only sports related activities at the Sanas sports ground since the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was going to be reserved only for international and first class cricket tournaments in future.

Dhole-Patil pointed out to Agarwal that it was mandatory that the administration inform the standing committee within a fortnight of deciding to let out the municipal sports ground for whatever purposes.