Is Karnataka planning ‘green cess’ on water bills to save Western Ghats?

Soon there might be a green cess on water bills in Karnataka cities that use water from rivers originating in the Western Ghats.
According to sources, Karnataka’s Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre asked his department to draft a proposal to impose such a cess. The minister instructed the Additional Chief Secretary for Forest, Environment and Ecology to submit the proposal within a week.
The objective, according to Khandre, behind the proposed cess is to support the preservation of the Western Ghats. The cess will be used to establish a conservation fund, by levying a small green cess on the water bills of users in urban areas that depend on these rivers.
Minister Khandre said: “If users contribute Rs 2 or 3 along with their water bill, it will raise awareness among them about environmental conservation and the importance of the Western Ghats. The funds collected in this way will not be used for any other purpose.”
He said the money collected will be used only for conservation of the eco-sensitive area of Western Ghats.
He said the funds could be used for forest development, tree plantation, and buying agricultural land on the forest fringes from farmers willing to sell to the Forest Department voluntarily.
The funds would also support projects to protect the Western Ghat, enhance green cover, create animal corridors, and install railway barricades to safeguard animals and protect forests.
Several rivers in Karnataka have origin points in the Western Ghats, including the Tunga, Bhadra, Kaveri, Kabini, Hemavati, Krishna, Malaprabha, and Ghataprabha. These rivers supply water to many urban and rural areas in the state.
The Western Ghats play a significant role in intercepting monsoon winds, resulting in widespread rainfall across the country.