KOLHAPUR: The civic body has decided to conduct a survey of commercial and industrial water connections in the city after corporators raised doubts over the figures cited by the water supply department in its proposal seeking imposition of Rs 25,000 fine on holders of connections with defunct meters.The proposal tabled before the NMC general body on Monday aims to deter commercial connection holders from using water indiscriminately and increase the revenue through water tax. The administration has found that many commercial users were receiving lesser tax bills compared to their actual water usage. The department said the city has 1,670 commercial and 1,365 industrial water connections.The corporators countered the claim saying that since registration of businesses such as hotels, hospitals, industrial units and tourist lodgings are in thousands, the figures presented by the administration were underestimating the actual scenario. They alleged that it was an attempt to allow commercial connection holders to use huge quantity of water free of cost while the rest of the city faced water scarcity NCP corporator Jayant Patil suggested that a team of officials from property tax and water supply departments should be formed and a survey should be carried out. "The administration should find the actual number of such connections."Tararani Aghadi's Kiran Nakate said, "I know of hundreds of tourist lodges around Mahalaxmi temple which should have been charged as per commercial rates. However, many of them do not even get water tax bills while their use of water is huge."Responding to the demand of from the corporators mayor Shobha Bondre directed civic chief Abhijeet Chaudhari to conduct a survey in one month and then table the proposal before the general body.

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