The Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan government to establish an Integrated Coordination Group to address industrial pollution in the state’s rivers. The group will work with the High Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee and prepare a comprehensive action plan covering environmental protection, groundwater conservation, river restoration, biodiversity and river-basin management.
The action plan will specify the steps to be taken, the authorities responsible for implementation, the implementation framework, and clear, measurable milestones and deadlines.
The Chief Secretary of Rajasthan will head the Integrated Coordination Group, which will include senior officials from key departments, including Environment, Forest, Revenue and Water Resources, along with officials from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB). The Chief Secretary will oversee inter-departmental coordination and periodically review the implementation of the plan.
The Court has directed that the action plan be submitted within three weeks of the constitution of the group.
The Supreme Court has also directed Rajasthan to establish an independent and self-sufficient River Commission/River Rejuvenation Authority headed by the Chief Secretary. The authority will be responsible for the conservation and rejuvenation of the state’s rivers, river basins and associated ecosystems. The Chief Secretary may seek assistance from experts and other professionals as required.
The Court also directed the state to strengthen efforts to address the backlog of cases involving environmental offences.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Rajasthan government will investigate the role of all persons involved, including public servants, and take appropriate action. The probe covers FIRs related to alleged concealed discharge networks and the release of untreated or inadequately treated industrial effluents in Jodhpur, Balotra and Pali.
The Court further directed that pending appeals involving White Category industries be decided within seven days of the August 7 order.
Rajasthan has also been directed to establish an Integrated Public Reporting and Environmental Grievance Redressal Mechanism to facilitate the reporting of environmental violations. The system should allow citizens to submit complaints along with supporting evidence, including photographs, videos and geo-tagged locations. The state has also been asked to examine the feasibility of a dedicated environmental crime reporting system.
The Court expressed concern over action against erring officials of the RSPCB and directed the concerned committee to examine the matter within three days.
The Court said it would next consider similar environmental issues concerning Jaipur and surrounding areas.
An appropriate model will also be developed for the Jojari-Bandi-Luni river system. After assessing its effectiveness, the model may be adapted for other river systems in Rajasthan facing similar pollution and ecological challenges.
Case: In Re: 2 Million Lives At Risk, Contamination In Jojari River, Rajasthan, Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 8 of 2025.