India, Nov. 19 -- Only promises, plans, but no progress; Rs. 4.9 crore revival stuck in red tape

Jawahar Bal Bhavan, once a vibrant hub of children's entertainment and education, now wears a deserted and forgotten look. Prolonged mudslinging between elected representatives and officials has reduced this once-popular destination to an abandoned spot.

Standing on a sprawling 10-acre tract within the premises of the District Child Protection Officer's Office of the Department of Women and Child Development, adjacent to the Torchlight Parade Grounds in Bannimantap, Bal Bhavan remains defunct.

Ironically, this has been its pitiable condition for the past 15 years, despite the establishment of an exclusive Jawahar Bal Bhavan Society meant to...