Supreme Court Slams Rajasthan Over Severe River Pollution From Factories

The Supreme Court has once again criticized the Rajasthan government for industrial waste flowing into the Jojari river and threatening local residents.

The Crisis

The Jojari, Luni, and Bandi are seasonal rivers in the dry western part of the state, passing through Jodhpur, Balotra, and Pali districts. This area has grown into a major hub for textile-dyeing and steelwork. Untreated or poorly treated waste from these factories flows directly into the rivers and soil, endangering the health of nearly 20 lakh people living nearby. The region also faces widespread illegal sand mining in riverbeds. State data from 2025 shows that sewage treatment plants can only handle about half of the waste produced in the three urban areas, while common effluent treatment plants remain heavily underused.

Court Action

The Supreme Court started a suo motu case in 2025 and set up a High-level Ecosystem Oversight Committee led by Justice Sangeet Lodha to audit the plants and create a cleanup plan. Based on strict reports from this committee, Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta banned new construction within 100 metres of the rivers and prohibited hazardous factories within 500 metres of the river paths or flood lines. The Court criticized local officials for not enforcing pollution rules and noted that state officials regularized leases in areas where they knew illegal mining was happening, raising fears of collusion between officials and industrial groups.

Context

Water pollution caused by untreated industrial waste remains a major challenge for regulatory authorities across industrial belts in India. The strict enforcement of environmental laws and the polluter pays principle are key legal tools used by courts to hold both private companies and negligent state bodies accountable for ecological damage.