There could soon be a green reduction in water bills in towns in Karnataka that use river water from the Western Ghats.

According to sources, Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre has asked his department to prepare a proposal to impose such a tax. The minister asked the additional chief secretary for forests, environment and ecology to submit the proposal within a week.

The objective, according to Khandre, behind the proposed handover is to support the preservation of the Western Ghats. This tax will be used to create a conservation fund, by levying a small green tax on the water bills of users in urban areas who rely on these rivers.

Minister Khandre said, “If users contribute Rs 2-3 along with their water bill, it will create awareness among them about environment conservation and the importance of Western Ghats. The funds thus collected will not be used for any other purpose.

He said the money collected will be used only for conservation of the Western Ghats eco-sensitive zone.

He said the funds could be used for forestry development, tree planting and purchase of forest-edge agricultural land from farmers willing to sell them voluntarily to the Forest Department.

The funds would also support projects to protect the Western Ghat, improve green cover, create animal corridors and install railway barricades to save animals and protect forests.

Several rivers of Karnataka have origins in the Western Ghats, including the Tunga, Bhadra, Kaveri, Kabini, Hemavati, Krishna, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha. These rivers provide water to many urban and rural areas of the state.

The Western Ghats play an important role in intercepting monsoon winds, which results in widespread rainfall across the country.