Breaking: Supreme Court Bans Construction Within 100m Of River Edge & Polluting Units Within 500m Buffer Zone Of Jojari River

The Supreme Court has banned construction within 100 meters of river edges and hazardous industrial activity within 500 meters of flood lines across the Jojari, Bandi, and Luni river basins in Rajasthan.

The Court also clarified the authority of the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, assigned an environmental project to NLU, and scheduled the next hearing for September 22, 2026.

Previously, the Court directed the State of Rajasthan to constitute, within seven days, an Integrated Coordination Group headed by the Chief Secretary and to set up an independent River Commission/River Rejuvenation Authority to streamline the restoration of the Jojari-Bandi-Luni river ecosystem.

The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed, "Hence, we hereby direct that: 1. No construction or development activity of any nature whatsoever shall be permitted within a distance of 100 meters from the edge of the river, in accordance with the aforesaid guidelines....2.Furthermore, since the high flood line is yet to be scientifically determined and demarcated, we consider it necessary as an additional interim safeguard to direct that no hazardous industry or activity having the potential to cause pollution, contamination, or other damage to the riverine ecosystem shall be permitted within a distance of 500 meters on either side of the existing flood line—wherever such flood line has been identified—or the present flow path of the river, until completion of the scientific exercise for determination and demarcation of the high flood line and the requisite ecological buffer zones."

ASG SV Raju, A.S.G. Archna Pathak Dave, along with AAG Shiv Mangal Sharma appeared in the matter.

The concerned rivers are ‘Jojari’ which passes through Jodhpur, the second largest city of Rajasthan; ‘Bandi’ which passes through city Pali; and ‘Luni’ which passes through Balotra with the latter two being hubs of dyeing printing industry. Rivers ‘Bandi’ and ‘Jojari’ merge into river ‘Luni’ somewhere near Balotra city. The Apex Court on September 16, 2025 took suo motu cognizance of a news documentary highlighting the grave environmental catastrophe in the Jojari River region. The documentary titled “2 Million Lives at Risk | India’s Deadliest River | Marudhara | Jojari | Rajasthan” exposed alarming levels of industrial pollution, governance failures, and severe public health consequences affecting nearly two million residents across several districts of Rajasthan.

Another matter of concern was brought to the notice of the Court related to the effective and smooth functioning of the Committee. The Court was apprised that, consequent upon the constitution of the Integrated Coordination Group, there was a substantial overlap in the composition of the Committee and the Integrated Coordination Group, with several of the same senior functionaries being members of both bodies.

In this regard the Court ordered, "We make it clear and emphasize that the Integrated Coordination Group has been formed by way of an internal arrangement for smooth and seamless conduct of the requisite exercise within the government departments, and in no manner impinges upon the domain of the Committee. However, as several members of the Committee and the Group are common, such overlap in their composition may give rise to practical difficulties in the independent and effective discharge of the respective functions entrusted to the two bodies, and therefore calls for appropriate clarification and delineation of their respective roles."

"We, therefore, provide that as and when considered necessary, the Honorable Chairperson of the Committee, in his individual capacity, will be empowered to pass suitable directions, orders, and instructions as may be imperative or expedient in the prevailing circumstances for ensuring the effective and expeditious coordinated implementation of the directions issued by this Court and the mandate entrusted to the Committee", it added.

Further, the Court said that the earlier directions given by the Court empowering the Committee to take necessary actions and pass requisite orders shall continue to operate in their letter and spirit.

The Court has also passed orders to assign a project to the National Law University, and also regarding your prayer to permit the release of the Balotra accumulated water.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognizance of the Jojari River contamination issue involving risk to nearly two million lives, and subsequently constituted a High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee in view of the pollution in Jojari River of Rajasthan.

The Court also issued a series of stringent interim directions for the industrial units and municipal bodies. The Court had taken suo-motu cognizance of the pollution in important rivers in western Rajasthan at peril, which has put the lives of 2 million people, animals, and ecosystem at risk.

Pursuant to the Court’s previous directions, the State filed a Special Investigation Team report and a comprehensive compliance report. The SIT stated that it had reviewed 16 criminal cases relating to riverine pollution in Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra, invoked graver offences wherever a prima facie case existed, arrested certain persons, and was examining documentary, oral and digital material, including CCTV footage, photographs and videography.

The State also placed material concerning remedial action at Tanawada, Sanganer-Dravyavati-Nevta, Morel Dam, Ambey Valley, Khed HRTS/SEP, Nehda Dam, CETP Sangariya, and proposed measures for restoration of the Luni, Jojari and Bandi rivers. It further submitted that the Chief Secretary had convened a meeting of departments and stakeholder associations to review the implementation of the Court’s directions.

The Court also suggested that the Rajasthan government prepare a 20-point resolution plan to deal with the issue of contamination in the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers in the state.

Accordingly, the matter is now listed for further hearing on September 22, 2026.

Cause Title: In Re: 2 Million Lives At Risk, Contamination In Jojari River, Rajasthan [Suo Moto Writ Petition (Civil) No. 8 of 2025]