Supreme Court bans construction activities within 100 meters of Rajasthan's Jojari River

The Supreme Court on Monday banned all construction and development activities within 100 metres from the edge of Rajasthan's Jojari River till the conclusion of scientific determination and demarcation of the high flood line and ecological buffer zones [In Re: 2 Million Lives At Risk, Contamination In Jojari River, Rajasthan].

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

"We are of the considered view that it is necessary to put in place an interim, definite and measurable area of protection so as to adequately safeguard the riverine ecosystem during the pendency of the scientific exercise for the determination and demarcation of the high flood line and the requisite ecological buffer zones. Hence, we hereby direct that no construction or development activity of any nature whatsoever shall be permitted within a distance of 100 meters from the edge of the river in accordance with the aforesaid guidelines," the Court ordered.

As an additional interim safeguard, the Court also ordered that no hazardous industry or polluting activity shall be permitted within 500 meters on either side of the existing flood line, wherever such flood line has been identified, or the present flow path of the river.

The Court said that this arrangement will continue till the high flood line and requisite ecological buffer zones near the river are scientifically determined.

The suo motu case before the Court 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.

During the last hearing of the matter, the Court had 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.

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 coordination group was directed to work with the high-level committee to prepare a comprehensive resolution plan that would identify 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.

Among other directions, the Court had also ordered the State to scientifically determine and demarcate high flood lines and ecological buffer zones for river systems across Rajasthan.

Today's consequential order bans industrial activity within 100 meters of the river line, and any hazardous or potentially polluting activities within 500 meters, while this exercise is completed.

The Court further also issued directions for the smooth functioning of the high-level committee headed by Justice Lodha. It clarified that the functions of the coordination group that the Court had formed at the last hearing is not meant to overlap with the committee's work. The commitee's chairperson (Justice Lodha) can issue instructions to ensure that the work of the committee and the coordination group is carried out smoothly, the Court said.

"As and when considered necessary, the hon'ble chairperson of the committee, in his individual capacity, may be empowered to pass suitable directions, orders and instructions as may be imperative or expedient in the prevailing circumstances for ensuring the effective and expeditious coordinated implementation of the directions issued by this court and the mandate entrusted to the committee. We further point that the earlier directions given by this court empowering the committee to take necessary actions and pass requisite orders shall continue to operate in their letter and spirit," it said.

The Court will hear the matter next on September 22.

[Live Coverage]