SC Directs Rajasthan to Act Against Polluting Industries Along Bandi, Luni and Jojari Rivers

The Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan government to take stringent action against industrial units polluting the Bandi, Luni and Jojari rivers, including sealing or removing illegal discharge infrastructure and shutting down factories operating unlawfully.

A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta issued a series of directions to tackle industrial pollution, illegal industrial operations and violations of land-use regulations affecting the three river systems.

The court observed that the problem extended beyond individual factories, pointing to inadequate effluent treatment capacity, unauthorised industrial operations, land-use irregularities and ineffective monitoring.

The authorities have been directed to immediately seal or remove identified illegal discharge points, bypass arrangements, manholes, chambers, pipelines and drains that have already been marked for removal. The court clarified that these measures must not be delayed until a detailed survey is completed.

The Rajasthan government has also been directed to submit an Action Taken Report every 15 days to document progress in implementing the orders.

The court ordered a comprehensive investigation into illegal industrial units operating on residential and agricultural land. The inquiry must examine not only the units themselves but also their associated financial transactions, job-work arrangements, raw material supplies, transportation networks and the beneficiaries of their operations.

Authorities have been instructed to initiate proceedings over revenue and land-use violations, remove or seize machinery wherever warranted, restore affected land and pursue legal action in accordance with the law.

To prevent the recurrence of such violations, the court directed the Rajasthan government to establish a permanent monitoring mechanism in every district. The mechanism will bring together the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, district administrations, police, revenue and transport departments, local bodies and other relevant agencies.

The court also stressed the need for regular inspections, designated nodal officers and timely action against violators.

The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been directed to assess and recover environmental compensation from the industrial units and individuals responsible for pollution, covering the period during which violations occurred.

The Board must report the compensation assessed, the amount recovered and the outstanding balance.

The court also ordered time-bound decisions on proposals to expand existing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), establish new facilities and upgrade industrial units’ Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) to Zero Liquid Discharge systems.

These measures are aimed at improving industrial wastewater management and preventing untreated effluents from entering the rivers.

The Supreme Court further directed authorities to take immediate action against illegal gravel and sand mining that damages riverbeds and banks or disrupts natural water flows.

Officials have been asked to submit comprehensive details of mining areas, leases, extracted quantities and mining depths to the High-Powered Ecosystem Oversight Committee by October 15, 2026.

The directions seek to strengthen enforcement against industrial pollution and unlawful mining while establishing a continuing framework of monitoring and accountability to protect Rajasthan’s river ecosystems.