The Supreme Court issued a sharp rebuke to the Nagar Nigam Jaipur Heritage on Friday for failing to protect the historic Jal Mahal lake in Rajasthan, highlighting the municipal body’s negligence as a cause of significant pollution.
Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan presided over the case and mandated the involvement of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to devise both immediate and long-term solutions for the lake’s restoration. The court’s frustration was palpable as it questioned the municipal commissioner’s commitment to making Jaipur a “smart city” while allowing the lake to deteriorate.
This reprimand came during a hearing of a petition by the municipal body challenging a 2023 order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The NGT had insisted on environmental clearances before approving projects like the proposed night market adjacent to the lake, emphasizing the need to adhere to the regulations protecting the nearby Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary and the Eco-Sensitive Zone.
The court sharply criticized the municipal authorities for permitting pollution-heavy activities near the lake, such as operating a night market and discharging untreated sewage and waste into the water body, which exacerbated the pollution.
Rejecting the municipality’s argument that the development project was intended to benefit the lake, the bench clarified that these actions were detrimental to both restoration and preservation efforts. The justices ordered a halt to all development activities near Jal Mahal Lake until NEERI could submit its findings and recommendations.
