Supreme Court Sets Up River Restoration Bodies For Rajasthan's Polluted Rivers
The Supreme Court constituted an Integrated Coordination Group and a River Restoration Body to oversee the restoration of Rajasthan's polluted Jojari, Luni and Bandi rivers
In a significant step towards addressing the ecological crisis caused by pollution in Rajasthan's river systems, the Supreme Court on Friday constituted an Integrated Coordination Group and a River Restoration Body to oversee the revival of the Jojari, Luni and Bandi rivers.
The directions came in the suo motu proceedings titled In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan, being heard by a Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta.
Pronouncing the order, Justice Mehta said the newly constituted bodies would coordinate restoration efforts and prepare a comprehensive roadmap for cleaning the polluted rivers.
"We have constituted an Integrated Coordination Group and a River Restoration Body to tackle pollution in the Jojari, Luni and Bandi rivers. Detailed directions will form part of the order and be shared with the State as well as the IPART Committee. The matter will now be taken up on September 22 to consider a comprehensive river restoration plan," the Bench observed.
The Court directed that the detailed order containing the constitution, mandate and functioning of the two bodies be circulated to the State Government as well as the IPART Committee, which has been assisting the Court in the matter.
The Bench further fixed September 22 as the next date of hearing, when it will consider a comprehensive river restoration action plan aimed at addressing industrial pollution, restoring river ecology and ensuring long-term environmental protection in the affected regions.
The proceedings arise out of the Supreme Court's continuing monitoring of severe pollution in the Jojari River and its tributaries, a matter that has been treated as one involving significant public health and environmental concerns affecting nearly two million people in Rajasthan.
On August 4, the Court had proposed a comprehensive 20-point resolution plan to tackle pollution in Rajasthan's Jojari, Luni and Bandi rivers, stressing that the objective should be to establish a self-sustaining regulatory mechanism that no longer requires continuous judicial oversight. The Bench had suggested that the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan head a Special Task Force comprising all concerned authorities, working alongside the High-Powered Committee, to prepare and submit a detailed 20-point action plan within three weeks.
Emphasising the need for institutional accountability, Justice Sandeep Mehta observed that the mechanism should function on "auto mode", ensuring that violations are detected immediately and corrective action is taken without repeated intervention by the Court.
Last month, expressing serious concern over reports of widespread industrial pollution and environmental degradation in Rajasthan, the Supreme Court had directed the State government to file comprehensive affidavits addressing allegations of untreated industrial effluents contaminating rivers, groundwater, agricultural land and wildlife habitats.
Background of the Case
By constituting the committee last year, the Court had sought a detailed assessment of the environmental damage, the measures required to control pollution, and the steps needed for restoration of the river ecosystem.
On November 17, the Bench had come down heavily on state authorities while hearing a suo motu matter concerning rising pollution levels in rivers across Rajasthan. The Bench had expressed strong displeasure over what it described as administrative inaction despite clear evidence of environmental degradation. “What has happened is under your nose and with the connivance of all authorities. There is no other way,” Justice Mehta had remarked, signalling the court’s frustration with the state’s failure to curb contamination of major water bodies.
Previously on September 15, the Court had initiated the suo moto proceedings and had noted that the contamination was affecting hundreds of villages along the river and rendering the drinking water non-potable for local communities.
The Bench had considered the reports of widespread pollution, noting that the environmental and health impacts were severe and required immediate judicial attention. It had directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai for appropriate orders, indicating the possibility of constituting a larger Bench or forming a monitoring committee to oversee remedial action. The Court had emphasized that the situation required urgent intervention from both the State Government of Rajasthan and relevant Central authorities to prevent further harm to the affected population and ensure that industries comply with environmental regulations.