Clean Rivers, Lasting Solution: SC Asks Rajasthan to Draft 20-Point Plan

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suggested that the Rajasthan government prepare a comprehensive 20-point resolution plan to tackle the long-standing contamination in the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers. The directions came during a hearing on a suo motu case concerning pollution in these rivers, which have suffered from industrial waste discharge for nearly two decades.

A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that the objective must be to find a durable solution rather than temporary fixes. The court noted that the entire industrial area in Pali district, through which the Bandi river flows, is located along the river bank. In the long term, the State authorities may have to consider relocating industries away from the river to prevent further damage, the court suggested.

The Jojari river passes through Jodhpur, the Bandi river flows through Pali, and the Luni river runs through Balotra. Both the Bandi and Jojari rivers merge with the Luni near Balotra city, making the entire stretch vulnerable to cumulative contamination from multiple industrial clusters.

During the hearing, the Bench interacted virtually with the Rajasthan Chief Secretary, who acknowledged the seriousness of the issue. The Chief Secretary assured the court that the State is willing to submit a detailed action plan after due consultation with all stakeholders, and that every effort would be made to prevent further contamination and pollution in the State's rivers.

Observing that multiple agencies are involved in river management and pollution control, the Bench suggested that the Chief Secretary constitute a group of officers to consult and work with the high-level ecosystem oversight committee. This group would be responsible for preparing the 20-point resolution plan. The court said it would require the Chief Secretary to hold a meeting under the chairmanship of the high-powered committee and come back with the plan.

The Supreme Court also emphasised the need for a permanent monitoring mechanism for all rivers in Rajasthan, not just the three under scrutiny. The Bench made it clear that while it has no intention of destroying the employment generated by these industrial units, the same cannot come at the cost of the environment.

The court is scheduled to pass further orders on August 7.

This case has its roots in a suo motu proceeding taken up by the Supreme Court last year after reports of severe contamination in the Jojari river. The court had also flagged the pollution in the Bandi and Luni rivers. In November last year, the apex court constituted a high-level ecosystem oversight committee to detect the fundamental maladies in the system, supervise remedial measures to arrest further pollution, and provide long-term suggestions for reversing the damage already caused.

In earlier hearings, the court had described the contamination in these rivers as reflecting a sustained "systemic collapse" of regulatory vigilance and "utter administrative apathy" stretching over nearly two decades. The upcoming 20-point plan is expected to address these systemic gaps, including enforcement, industrial waste treatment, and ecological restoration.

Residents and environmental activists have long demanded action to restore these rivers, which are vital to the arid western Rajasthan region. The court's push for a structured, time-bound resolution plan marks an important step toward accountability and sustainable industrial practices.