pune garware balbhavan a popular recreational centre for children opposite sarasbaug is facing uncertainty over its existence yet again parents who send their children to the facility are apprehensive that pune municipal corporation pmc may give the premises on rent to the highest bidder the lease agreement between the balbhavan and civic body has expired and the civic administration has invited bids for a new rental agreement on friday scores of parents including senior citizens and children formed a human chain around the balbhavan to highlight their anxiety about the 27yearold centre used by nearly 500 children every day the elected members and the civic body have often made proposals like developing a commercial complex on the site every time such a proposal came up people have raised the pitch to protect the centre there needs to be a permanent solution shobha bhagwat director of the centre told toi the civic body wants to take away a good recreational facility for children said senior citizen mangala gholap the centre is among the few places where children find space to play and pick up hobbies said a parent others demanded that the administration come up with a solution that will suit all the stakeholders my son used to come here to play 27 years ago now my granddaughter is playing on the same ground the attachment the activities here have created is immense taking away the ground from these children is wrong gholap added sugandha pande who has been frequenting the centre for eight years along with her son said the centre is a place to play and increase physical strength children also strengthen their mental abilities sampada joshi another parent said boys and girls grow up together here the values that they learn here cannot be taught anywhere else a few years ago the recreational centre which is at a prime location opposite sarasbaug was sought by a section of politicians and the civic administration for a ropeway project an art gallery and a memorial all such plans were dropped following public pressure