Supreme Court warns Rajasthan government over industrial waste pollution in Jawajri River. Health of more than 20 lakh people at risk; state ordered to take corrective steps
Jawajri, Luni and Bandi rivers flowing through Raipur, Balotra and Pali districts are seasonal rivers in the dry western part of the state. Waste from textile dyeing and steel industries is directly reaching rivers and soil
Supreme Court order and high‑level committee report
In 2025, Supreme Court voluntarily filed a writ petition and formed a high‑level ecological monitoring committee on Jawajri River pollution, chaired by Justice Sangeet Lodha
Committee report found that sewage treatment plants in three urban centres handle only half of the waste, while use of general waste treatment plants is also low
Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta banned construction within 100 metres of riverbank and hazardous industries within 500 metres
State negligence and legal action
Supreme Court accused local authorities of illegal sand mining in rivers and failure to comply with waste treatment rules. Despite blocking the 2022 National Green Tribunal order, state directed to clean Jawajri River
Justice Mehta highlighted possibility of holding state accountable under ‘Polluter Pays’ principle, raising serious questions about state failure