Green cess for Western Ghat river water: Minister Eshwar Khandre

Bengaluru
The biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats is the source of many rivers. Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre has suggested to submit a proposal for imposing green cess on the cities that are supplied with water from these rivers.
The Western Ghats are also the source of many rivers including Tunga, Bhadra, Kaveri, Kabini, Hemavati, Krishna, Malaprabha, Ghatprabha. Water from these rivers is being supplied to many cities and towns in the state. The water needs of the state will have to be met by these rivers. Thus, they are of the opinion that only if the Western Ghats, which is the source of all these rivers, is preserved, the rivers will be able to overflow in the coming days.
The Western Ghats play an important role in intercepting monsoon winds and causing widespread rainfall across the country. In this regard, he said that if a green cess of a few rupees is levied on the bill of water supplied to the cities and towns from the rivers of the Western Ghats, and if reserve fund is established, this money can be used for the development of the forests of the Western Ghats, for the enhancement of trees, and for the purchase of agricultural land that the forest-dangerous farmers voluntarily want to sell to the forest department.
This money can also be used for installation of railway barricade to protect forest and control wildlife-human conflict. Ishwara Khandre has instructed the Deputy Chief Secretary to submit a proposal in this regard.