The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will pronounce its order on October 9 in the suo motu case concerning industrial contamination of the Jojari River in Rajasthan, which has endangered the lives of millions.
The matter, titled “In Re: 2 million lives at risk, contamination in Jojari river, Rajasthan”, came up before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. “We will fix this matter after Dussehra vacations for orders,” the bench told counsel appearing for the Rajasthan government, listing the case for October 9.
During the hearing, the state’s counsel pointed out that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had already issued directions on the discharge of effluents into the river. The bench responded, “We are aware of it,” while permitting the state to submit a note, if it wished.
On September 16, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the discharge of industrial waste into the river, primarily from textile and tile factories, which has rendered the water unfit for both human and animal consumption across hundreds of villages.
The bench had observed that the contamination was severely affecting public health, livestock, and the wider ecosystem. “This court is taking suo motu cognisance with respect to river Marudhara Jojari, Rajasthan, where a lot of industrial waste primarily from textile and tile factories is being discharged, making hundreds of villages and the drinking water for animals and humans both not potable,” the bench recorded in its earlier order.
The court had also directed that the matter be placed before the Chief Justice of India for appropriate orders and follow-up action.
The Jojari River, a tributary of the Luni, has been battling severe pollution due to unchecked industrial effluents for years. Local communities have repeatedly flagged the contamination, citing rising health problems and loss of agricultural productivity.
With the top court now seized of the matter, its upcoming order on October 9 is expected to set the course for remedial and preventive measures to address what has been described as an environmental crisis threatening “two million lives.”
