Supreme Court forms coordination group to tackle industrial pollution of Rajasthan water bodies

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Rajasthan government to constitute an Integrated Coordination Group to coordinate efforts to tackle industrial pollution and restore polluted river systems in the State [In Re: 2 Million Lives At Risk, Contamination In Jojari River, Rajasthan].

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order while dealing with a suo motu case concerning the industrial pollution of rivers in Rajasthan, including the Jojari River.

The Court ordered the coordination group's constitution after noting that the environmental issues before it could not be effectively addressed through fragmented departmental interventions.

"The nature and complexity of these issues necessitate a coordinated, multidisciplinary and institutional response extending across different administrative levels of the State Government," the Court said.

The Court added that the coordination group will be headed by Rajasthan Chief Secretary Voruganti Srinivas and may include senior officials from various government departments, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB), other statutory authorities and experts.

The coordination group will work with the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee to prepare a Comprehensive Resolution Plan within three weeks, identifying measures, responsibilities, milestones and timelines for pollution control and ecological restoration.

The Court also directed the State to constitute an independent River Commission or River Rejuvenation Authority for the conservation, rejuvenation and integrated management of rivers, river basins and catchment areas across Rajasthan.

The Court said that, for the time being, the River Commission or River Rejuvenation Authority will function under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary of the State.

The suo motu case arose after a documentary, "2 Million Lives at Risk | India's Deadliest River | Jojari, Rajasthan," exposed severe contamination in Jodhpur, Pali and Barmer districts.

In November 2025, the Court revived the National Green Tribunal's 2022 clean-up directions for the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers and set up a High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee headed by former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice Sangeet Lodha.

The Court has since been monitoring industrial pollution and degradation of water bodies in Rajasthan with the assistance of the Committee.

In July this year, the Court flagged reports of pollution across the State, including a pond near the Jojari turning pink from suspected industrial waste and unauthorised industrial units operating in Jaipur's Sanganer-Dravyavati-Nevta belt.

The Rajasthan government was consequently directed to respond to the Committee's findings as well as the environmental concerns brought to the Court's attention.

In its order today, the Court considered the State government's compliance report along with successive reports submitted by the Committee and the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

After examining the material, the Court concluded that further directions were necessary to ensure coordination among authorities and facilitate the long-term restoration and protection of the riverine ecosystem.

Among other directions, the Court ordered the State to scientifically determine and demarcate High Flood Lines and ecological buffer zones for river systems across Rajasthan.

"Until the completion of the aforesaid exercise, no fresh permissions facilitating industrial, commercial or residential development within the identified river corridors shall be granted by any Department, statutory authority or local body of the State of Rajasthan," the Court ordered.

The SIT probing river pollution cases was also directed to intensify its investigation and examine the role of all persons involved, including public servants, industrial units and office-bearers of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs).

The Court also noted that the State government's report was silent on the action taken against responsible officers of the RSPCB.

"We are constrained to observe that the report submitted by the State Government is totally silent regarding the action taken, if any, against the responsible officers of the RSPCB. The details of the action taken/proposed to be taken shall be placed before the Committee within the next three days," the Court said.

The Court further directed the State to establish a QR Code-based public reporting and environmental grievance redressal mechanism through which people can report environmental violations using photographs, videos and geo-tagged information.

The State has also been asked to examine the feasibility of introducing an incentive scheme for credible information leading to the detection of serious environmental violations while ensuring confidentiality and protection of informants.

The Chief Secretary was also directed to continue to personally monitor compliance and ensure coordination among government departments and statutory authorities.

The Court said it would first assess how effectively these measures work for the Jojari-Bandi-Luni river ecosystem before considering whether a similar framework should be extended to other polluted river systems in Rajasthan.

It added that industrial pollution, illegal operation of industries and environmental degradation in Jaipur and adjoining areas will be considered at the next hearing.

The matter will be heard next on September 22, when the Court will consider the Comprehensive Resolution Plan to be submitted by the Integrated Coordination Group in consultation with the High Level Committee.

The Court also directed the Registry to forward a copy of the order to former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice Sangeet Lodha, who heads the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, and Additional Advocate General Shiv Mangal Sharma for information and necessary compliance.

Key directions in a nutshell

- Integrated Coordination Group: Rajasthan must constitute an Integrated Coordination Group within 7 days to coordinate implementation of directions to tackle water pollution, restore water, protect groundwater etc. Group to submit a resolution plan after consulting with court-appointed High-Level Committee

- River Commission: The State must establish an independent River Commission/River Rejuvenation Authority, headed for now by the Chief Secretary, to oversee conservation, rejuvenation and integrated management of rivers, including High Flood Line demarcation. Its framework must be placed before the Court by the next hearing. 

- SIT probe to continue: The Special Investigation Team has been directed to intensify its investigation, examine the role of public servants, industrial units, and others against whom evidence emerges, and take action without fear or favour. 

- Public grievance mechanism: Rajasthan must establish a QR code-based digital environmental reporting platform for citizens to report pollution, illegal effluent discharge, groundwater extraction, encroachments, illegal mining and other violations, with complaint tracking and digital monitoring. The State may also consider rewarding credible whistleblowers. 

- Action against RSPCB officials: The State must place before the court-appointed Committee details of action taken or proposed against errant RSPCB officers, noting that its report was silent on this aspect. 

[Read Order]