SC directs Rajasthan to set up coordination group, river commission to restore polluted rivers

The Supreme Court on Friday (August 7, 2026) directed the Rajasthan government to constitute, within seven days, an integrated coordination group headed by the Chief Secretary to implement its directions for restoring the Jojari, Bandi and Luni river system. It also ordered the creation of a river commission to oversee the conservation of rivers across the State.A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that material placed before the court by various stakeholders revealed severe degradation of the riverine ecosystem and illegal discharge of industrial effluents, warranting immediate intervention and a coordinated institutional response.“The State of Rajasthan shall, within a period of seven days, constitute an ‘Integrated Coordination Group’ headed by the Chief Secretary,” the Bench ordered, adding that the group could include senior government officials, pollution control authorities and other experts.The directions came in a suo motu proceeding initiated in September 2025 after the Apex Court took cognisance of reports of extensive pollution in the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers flowing through Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra districts, respectively. The court subsequently constituted a high-level committee headed by former Rajasthan High Court judge Justice Sangeet Lodha to prepare a time-bound restoration plan for the river system.The Bench directed the coordination group to consult the high-level committee and prepare a resolution plan within three weeks of its constitution, setting out responsibilities, targets and timelines. It also asked the group to use technologies such as satellite mapping and AI-based surveillance for environmental monitoring and enforcement.“In our opinion, such an integrated roadmap would provide the necessary administrative coherence and institutional continuity for addressing the environmental concerns which have engaged the attention of this court and would considerably strengthen the implementation of the measures envisaged in these proceedings,” the Bench said.‘Public reporting system’Devising a mechanism for public reporting of environmental violations, the court directed the State government to establish a QR code-based digital platform through which people can flag violations. The QR codes are to be displayed on the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) website and at industrial areas, effluent treatment plants and other public spaces.“The platform shall enable any person having credible information to report instances of illegal discharge of industrial effluents, unauthorised operation of industrial units, illegal extraction of groundwater, encroachments upon riverbeds, illegal dumping of hazardous waste, destruction of wildlife habitats and any other environmental violations by uploading photographs, videos, geo-tagged information or such other electronic material as may be necessary,” the Bench said.It added that the mechanism would allow confidential reporting and directed the State to explore the possibility of offering incentives for credible information leading to the detection of serious environmental violations.River commissionObserving that bodies such as the Rajasthan River Basin and the Water Resources Planning Authority had become largely defunct and failed to effectively discharge their functions, the Bench directed the State to constitute a river commission headed by the Chief Secretary and comprising domain experts. The commission will be tasked with scientifically demarcating high-flood lines and corresponding ecological buffer zones across the State.Until the exercise is completed, the court barred authorities from granting fresh permissions for commercial or residential development within identified river corridors.The court also expressed concern that the High Rate Transpiration System (HRTS) facilities at Ambey Valley and Khed, originally set up for the disposal of treated industrial effluents, had become repositories of accumulated industrial wastewater that could be hazardous to the environment. It directed that the wastewater be scientifically treated and disposed of in accordance with environmental norms within a fixed timeframe.“Immediately thereafter, associated infrastructure at the HRTS sites shall be dismantled and the land restored... The reclaimed land shall thereafter be developed as a green ecological zone/urban forest through plantation of native species and biodiversity conservation measures, under the supervision of the Committee and the Forest Department, so as to secure long-term ecological restoration of the area and enhance the environmental resilience of the riverine ecosystem,” the Bench ordered.For industries generating less than 100 kilolitres of effluents a day, the court asked the State government and the RSPCB to consider a policy encouraging captive effluent treatment plants wherever technically and economically feasible, with the ultimate objective of achieving zero liquid discharge.“The competent authority, i.e., the RSPCB, shall ensure that all pending applications seeking permission for establishment of Captive Effluent Treatment Plants are processed and decided expeditiously, in accordance with law, so as to facilitate decentralised treatment of industrial wastewater,” the court directed.Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further hearing on September 22, 2026, to review compliance with its directions. It also indicated that it would consider adopting similar measures for other polluted river systems across Rajasthan.