Congress Government Plans to Impose Green Cess on Water Bills in Karnataka

The Congress government in Karnataka is preparing to impose a Green Cess on water bills to ease the financial burden on the public. The proposal aims to generate funds for the development of the Western Ghats, an ecologically significant region. In this regard, Karnataka's Forest Minister, Eshwar B. Khande, has directed the additional chief secretary of the department to prepare recommendations for the implementation of the cess.

The Green Cess will be imposed on water bills in urban areas, with a charge of Rs 2 to Rs 3 per bill. The proposed recommendations are expected to be submitted within a week. The funds generated through this cess will be used for the preservation and development of the Western Ghats.

About the Western Ghats: The Western Ghats stretch for 1,600 kilometers, from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala, all the way to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. This range provides water resources to approximately 24.5 crore people across India. It is the source of many major rivers, including the Krishna, Godavari, and Cauvery, along with several tributaries like the Tungabhadra, Bhima, Malaprabha, and Kabini.

The Western Ghats are home to 325 species of animals listed as threatened, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity. It also hosts a vast array of unique environmental wonders, making it an area of critical ecological importance.