Supreme Court orders Rajasthan to set up river-pollution authority

This is a Supreme Court of India order (Suo Moto Writ Petition No. 8 of 2025) directing the State of Rajasthan to address grave environmental concerns, including river contamination and industrial effluent discharge, by constituting an Inter-Departmental Group and a River Authority. It matters to citizens as it mandates specific remedial actions, investigations into official complicity, and scientific assessments to protect public health and water resources.

Who it concerns: The State of Rajasthan, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB), industrial units (specifically textile processing units in Sanganer and others), and the public affected by environmental degradation in districts including Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra.

What the document says

• The Court directed the State of Rajasthan to constitute an Inter-Departmental Group and a River Authority to tackle environmental issues.
• The Court directed the SIT to continue its investigation with enhanced diligence, independence, and professionalism, specifically to identify the complete chain of events, decision-making processes, and involvement of all persons (private, industrial, or public officials).
• The Court noted that the SIT's invocation of graver offences and arrests occurred only near the hearing date, questioning the bona fides of the actions, and advised officials to act with promptness.
• The Court directed the expedient implementation of remedial recommendations from IIT Jodhpur regarding the pink coloration of the pond near the Jojari River at Tanawada, subject to Committee approval.
• The Court directed the RSPCB to prepare and implement a scientific plan for the treatment and safe disposal of accumulated effluents at CETP, Sangariya, without permitting the resumption of industrial operations.
• The Court made the Chief Secretary personally responsible for ensuring compliance with its directions and directed his virtual appearance at the next hearing.

Also in the document

• The SIT reported reviewing 16 criminal cases in Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra, registering four FIRs, and arresting several persons.
• The SIT found prima facie evidence of connivance between CETP officials and industrial units to bypass treatment processes.
• IIT Jodhpur’s preliminary opinion on the pink pond coloration suggests it is likely due to saline/organic contamination, evaporation, and microbial activity, rather than a specific dye source, recommending 10-12 weeks of further study.
• In the Sanganer-Dravyavati-Nevta region, 1,767 textile units were identified; 892 are connected to a CETP, while 875 are not. Closure directions were issued to 814 units, and 65 units have been sealed.
• The State reported establishing five Sewage Treatment Plants with a cumulative capacity of 170 Million Litres per Day and restoring approximately 47 km of the Dravyavati River channel.