Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
Jaipur, Oct 9: The Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan government to take strict action against industrial units polluting the Bandi, Luni and Jojari rivers, including sealing or removing factories found to be operating illegally.
A Bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta also ordered a comprehensive investigation into illegal industries operating on residential and agricultural land, directing authorities to examine violations of land-use regulations and the wider network supporting such operations.
The court observed that the pollution problem extended beyond individual industrial units and involved inadequate effluent treatment capacity, illegal industrial operations, irregularities in land use and ineffective monitoring.
The Supreme Court directed authorities to immediately seal or remove identified illegal discharge points, bypass arrangements, manholes, chambers, pipelines and drains that had already been approved for removal. It clarified that these measures must not be delayed pending completion of a detailed survey.
The authorities have been directed to submit an Action Taken Report every 15 days to document the progress made in implementing the court's orders.
The investigation into illegal industrial units must extend beyond the factories themselves to examine associated financial transactions, job-work arrangements, raw material supplies, transportation networks and the beneficiaries of the operations.
Authorities have also been directed to initiate proceedings over revenue and land-use violations, remove or seize machinery wherever warranted, restore affected land and pursue legal action in accordance with the law.
The court ordered the Rajasthan government to establish a permanent monitoring mechanism in every district to prevent illegal industrial activities contributing to pollution.
The mechanism will involve the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, district administrations, police, revenue and transport departments, local bodies and other relevant agencies. The court emphasised regular inspections, the appointment of designated nodal officers and timely action against violations.
The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been directed to assess and recover environmental compensation from the industrial units and individuals responsible for violations. The Board must also report the compensation assessed, the amount recovered and the outstanding balance for the period during which the violations occurred.
The court further directed the authorities to take time-bound decisions on proposals to expand existing Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), establish new facilities and upgrade industrial units' Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) to Zero Liquid Discharge systems.
The measures are aimed at improving wastewater treatment and preventing untreated industrial effluents from entering the three river systems.
The Supreme Court also ordered immediate action against illegal gravel and sand mining that damages riverbeds and banks or disrupts natural water flows.
Officials have been directed to submit comprehensive details of mining areas, leases, extracted quantities and mining depths to the High-Powered Ecosystem Oversight Committee by October 15.
The directions seek to strengthen enforcement against industrial pollution and illegal mining while establishing a sustained monitoring and accountability mechanism to protect Rajasthan's river ecosystems.