“Unbelievable Suffering”: Supreme Court Blasts Rajasthan Over Toxic Pollution in Jojari River

The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the Rajasthan government for failing to contain severe pollution in the Jojari River, saying the suffering caused to nearly two million residents was “unbelievable.” A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed strong displeasure at the state’s inaction, remarking that toxic effluents were still being discharged directly into the river, bypassing treatment plants meant to prevent contamination.

“The harsh reality that is going on at the spot is alarming,” the bench observed while hearing a suo motu case titled In Re: Two Million Lives at Risk, Contamination in Jojari River, Rajasthan. “The suffering which has been caused to the people is unbelievable,” Justice Mehta noted, emphasizing that municipal bodies could not be exonerated from their responsibility. The bench said the situation persisted “under the nose and with the connivance” of officials tasked with environmental oversight.

The state's counsel submitted a status report affirming that civic administrations in Pali and Balotra, the Jodhpur Nagar Nigam, and the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) have decided to withdraw their appeals filed against the National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s February 2022 order, which had issued stringent directions to curb industrial pollution. The NGT had earlier ordered RIICO to pay Rs 2 crore in environmental compensation for its role in the contamination of the Jojari, Bandi, and Luni rivers.

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The Supreme Court noted that the status report validated its earlier concerns over the state’s handling of the issue. “Why should we exonerate the municipal bodies?” the bench asked, pointing out that the discharge of untreated industrial waste was continuing unchecked. The court stressed that the pollution of the river has made drinking water unsafe not just for humans but also for livestock across several affected districts.

Taking the report on record, the bench said it would pass a detailed order on November 21. The case follows the court’s decision in September to take suo motu cognisance of the crisis after reports showed that decades of industrial effluents—mainly from textile factories—had turned the river into a toxic channel. The contamination has impacted hundreds of villages, eroded soil fertility, and endangered local ecosystems. The court said accountability and immediate corrective action by state agencies are now crucial to protect both public health and the environment.

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