Supreme Court directs Rajasthan to shut illegal discharge points polluting Jojari-Luni-Bandi rivers and recover environmental compensation

Key facts

• The Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, in an order issued on September 29, directed Rajasthan to seal and dismantle all illegal and unauthorised discharge points, including bypass arrangements, manholes, chambers, pipelines and conduits, into the Jojari-Luni-Bandi river system.
• The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) was directed to initiate proceedings for assessment, imposition and actual recovery of Environmental Compensation for the entire period of violations from the industrial units, persons or entities that benefited from them.
• The court took suo motu cognisance in September 2025 after news reports highlighted severe pollution in the Jojari river, a lifeline for about 2 million people, where sewage mixed with industrial effluents damaged crops and caused health problems in cattle, including infertility, miscarriage and skin diseases.
• The court ordered a comprehensive technical survey of all bridges and road crossings across the Luni, Jojari and Bandi river systems and their tributaries to identify and remove structures impeding the rivers' natural flow.
• A nine-member committee headed by former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice (retd) Sangeet Lodha, constituted in November 2025, is assisting the court, and the state was directed to take immediate enforcement action against illegal sand mining and provide the committee details of mining leases, quantities extracted and restoration obligations.
• Rajasthan was directed to establish a permanent, district-wise coordinated enforcement mechanism involving the RSPCB, district administration, police, revenue, transport and local bodies, with nodal officers for regular field surveillance.
• The state chief secretary was directed to process all pending proposals for Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) and their upgradation to zero liquid discharge (ZLD) through a single-window mechanism.
• In August, the Supreme Court had barred construction within 100 metres of the edges of the three rivers and restrained hazardous industries within 500 metres on either side of their existing flood lines.