New Delhi, May 29 (H.S.): The Supreme Court of India on Friday adopted a strict stance in the matter concerning pollution in Rajasthan’s Jojari River and directed that accountability be fixed on officials responsible for the environmental damage. A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath ordered the state Director General of Police (DGP) to register an FIR and conduct an investigation through a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

During the hearing, the Court made it clear that the role of all officials involved — from the highest levels to the grassroots administration — must be thoroughly examined. The bench emphasized that the investigation should not remain a mere formality and that responsibility must be clearly determined regarding how the Jojari River reached such a deplorable condition.

The Supreme Court also warned that contempt proceedings could be initiated if its directions were not complied with.

Earlier, on November 17, 2025, the Supreme Court had strongly reprimanded the Rajasthan government over its failure to address pollution in the Jojari River. The Court had then remarked that it would ensure concrete action beyond the orders issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), observing that the ground situation remained extremely alarming.

The bench had stated that it reflected a failure on the part of the state government that industrial pollutants were still being discharged into rivers despite years of official intervention, with conditions continuing to deteriorate.

The Court had also taken note of the fact that, apart from the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), municipal bodies from Pali, Balotra, and Jodhpur had challenged the NGT’s 2022 order directing the cleaning of the Jojari River. The Supreme Court had questioned the Rajasthan government on whether it was genuinely serious about challenging the NGT’s directives.

On October 10, 2025, the Court ordered that the suo motu proceedings concerning toxic contamination in the Jojari River be heard along with the pending appeals against the NGT order. The Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue on September 16, 2025, observing that the discharge of industrial waste into the river was adversely affecting public health and the broader ecosystem.

The Supreme Court had noted that industrial waste from nearby factories was being directly discharged into the river, contaminating water supplies in hundreds of villages. Residents were reportedly being deprived of clean drinking water, while both human health and ecological systems were suffering severe consequences.

The Court further observed that large quantities of industrial waste from textile and tile manufacturing units were being released into the Jojari River, rendering the water unfit for consumption for both humans and livestock across hundreds of villages.

The Jojari River originates near Pondlu village in Rajasthan’s Nagaur district and flows through Jodhpur and Barmer districts before merging with the Luni River.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar