Supreme Court orders SIT probe into illegal gravel mining in Rajasthan rivers

Who it concerns: Petitioner: Jodhpur Pollution Control and Research Foundation (and others); Respondent: State of Rajasthan; Bench: Not stated in the provided text.

What the court decided

• The Court noted the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee's recommendation to preserve river corridors based on recorded boundaries rather than sewage flow estimates.
• The Court noted the Committee's recommendation to prohibit red-category industries within 500 meters of the river boundaries and maintain a 100-meter protective zone.
• The Court noted the Committee's recommendation for an independent Special Investigation Team (SIT) into organized illegal mining and official complicity.
• The Court noted the State's submission that it would refrain from granting permissions for new industries until High Flood Lines and buffer zones are lawfully determined.
• The Court noted the applicant's request to place a 4 MLD Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) project proposal before the State Government for approval and financial assistance.
• The matter was directed to be listed on 26th October, 2026 (as per the previous order referenced in the text).

Also in the document

• The Committee cautioned that the Water Resources Department misconstrued previous Court directions by attempting to determine river widths based on sewage flow, which the Court had not directed.
• The Committee highlighted that reducing river widths to match sewage flow would effectively reduce the river to a narrow channel, defeating the purpose of ecosystem restoration.
• The State of Rajasthan submitted that the exercise to redetermine river widths based on sewage flow was misconceived and could not be sustained.
• The applicant proposed a 4 MLD ZLD facility at Jodhpur, which the Committee recommended be implemented strictly within committed timelines.