The legal battle to safeguard the Jojari, Bandi, and Luni river systems—often referred to as the lifeline of Western Rajasthan—has reached a decisive stage. On Wednesday, 18 March, the Supreme Court of India expressed its appreciation for the Rajasthan government's initiatives and the functioning of the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee. After hearing arguments presented by Additional Advocate General (AAG) Shiv Mangal Sharma, the bench reserved its final order, while the case pertains to the environmental degradation caused by industrial effluents and untreated sewage discharge into the river system.
Administrative Enhancements and Resource Allocation
During the proceedings, AAG Shiv Mangal Sharma informed the court that the state government has addressed all administrative and systemic concerns previously raised by the Justice (Retd) Sangeetam Lodha Committee. To ensure smooth operations, the government has appointed a dedicated Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officer as the nodal officer for the committee. On top of that, the deployment of a full-time legal researcher and a stenographer has been completed. The state representative emphasized that the necessary infrastructure for effective monitoring and reporting has been established to facilitate the committee's mandate.
Stakeholder Consensus and Judicial Observations
The Supreme Court noted with satisfaction that the Rajasthan government is approaching the matter through a constructive framework rather than adversarial litigation. A significant development during the hearing was the consensus among various stakeholders. Counsel Vinay Kothari, representing the industrial units, and ASG Archana Pathak Dave, appearing for the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF), raised no objections to the committee's recommendations. This unified stance on river rejuvenation was viewed by the court as a positive step toward resolving the long-standing environmental crisis in the region.
Chronology of the Jojari River Pollution Dispute
The dispute centers on the contamination of agricultural land and groundwater due to toxic industrial waste and sewage. The Supreme Court took Suo Motu cognizance of the deteriorating condition of the Jojari River on 16 September 2025. Subsequently, a high-level committee chaired by Justice Sangeetam Lodha was constituted on 21 November 2025. The committee submitted its first comprehensive report on 10 March 2026, which highlighted numerous illegal discharge points and documented the extent of industrial pollution in Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra.
Scientific Blueprint for River Restoration
The oversight committee has proposed the development of a scientific blueprint to revive the river system based on extensive ground inspections. The Rajasthan government has formally agreed to implement these recommendations, which focus on identifying and sealing illegal effluent channels and improving waste treatment protocols. The reserved order from the Supreme Court is expected to provide the final legal framework and timelines for the execution of this restoration plan, aiming to permanently eliminate the discharge of pollutants into the rivers of Western Rajasthan.