Jaipur: In an order aimed at restoring the polluted Jojari-Bandi-Luni river system, Supreme Court Friday directed Rajasthan govt to constitute an integrated coordination group within seven days, establish an independent river commission, prepare a comprehensive resolution plan within three weeks, and launch a QR code-based public grievance mechanism for reporting environmental violations.The court noted that it will address the issues of industrial pollution, illegal industries, and environmental degradation in Jaipur and surrounding areas at the next hearing. It has directed state govt and relevant authorities to submit records and reports on pollution from industrial units in Jaipur for review by then.The court further ordered the special investigation team to intensify its probe into industrial pollution, directed that pending representations of ‘white category’ industries be decided within seven days, and held the state’s chief secretary personally responsible for ensuring compliance with its directions.The directions came in SC’s suo motu proceedings concerning contamination of Jojari River in Rajasthan.A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that reports submitted by High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, SIT and state govt revealed “severe degradation of river ecosystems”, contamination of water bodies, illegal discharge of untreated industrial effluents, encroachments on riverbeds and floodplains, and systemic failures in environmental regulation, necessitating a coordinated institutional response instead of fragmented departmental action.The court directed the state to constitute an integrated coordination group under the chairmanship of chief secretary with senior officers from the departments of environment, forests, water resources, industries, urban development, revenue, local self-govt, agriculture and Rajasthan state pollution control board (RSPCB). The group has been asked to consult the court-appointed committee and prepare a comprehensive resolution plan identifying action points, implementation responsibilities, timelines, measurable milestones and monitoring mechanisms for pollution abatement, ecological restoration, groundwater conservation and river basin management.The bench also ordered the constitution of an independent river commission/river rejuvenation authority to oversee conservation and integrated management of rivers, scientific demarcation of high flood lines, protection of river corridors and coordinated river basin governance across Rajasthan. “Its organisational framework, powers and implementation mechanism are to be placed before the court by the next hearing,” the bench said.The court further directed that no fresh industrial, commercial or residential development be permitted within river corridors until high flood lines and ecological buffer zones are scientifically determined. It ordered identification and phased removal of encroachments and illegal mining from riverbeds and floodplains in accordance with law.The court noted that the state’s compliance report was silent on action against RSPCB officers and directed that details of action taken or proposed against them be placed before the committee within three days. The matter has been listed for further hearing on Sept 22.
