Supreme Court of India has imposed an interim ban on construction and development within 100 metres of the edge of the Jojari River in Rajasthan

Supreme Court of India has imposed an interim ban on construction and development within 100 metres of the edge of the Jojari River in Rajasthan

¨     Supreme Court of India has imposed an interim ban on construction and development within 100 metres of the edge of the Jojari River in Rajasthan.

¨     Hazardous industries and pollution-causing activities have also been prohibited within 500 metres on either side of the river’s existing flood line or present flow path.

¨     The case is a suo motu environmental matter titled “In Re: 2 Million Lives At Risk, Contamination In Jojari River, Rajasthan.”

¨     The case concerns industrial pollution in western Rajasthan affecting areas linked to Jodhpur, Pali and Balotra.

¨     The restrictions will remain in force until the scientific demarcation of the High Flood Line and ecological buffer zones is completed.

¨     The Court emphasized the need for scientific identification of flood-prone and environmentally sensitive areas along the river.

¨     The Supreme Court directed the Rajasthan government to constitute an Integrated Coordination Group.

¨     The group will be headed by the Chief Secretary and will address pollution in the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers.

¨     The state government has also been directed to establish an independent River Commission or River Rejuvenation Authority for the restoration of polluted river systems.

¨     The Court clarified that the Integrated Coordination Group is an internal government arrangement and does not override the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee.

¨     Suo motu means that a court initiates proceedings on its own motion without a formal petition from a party.

¨     The High Flood Line indicates the level or boundary up to which floodwaters may rise in a particular area.

¨     River rejuvenation authorities are intended to support pollution control, ecological restoration and basin-level coordination.

¨     The Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers are important components of the river systems of western Rajasthan.

¨     The case is important from the perspective of environmental protection, floodplain regulation, river pollution control and judicial intervention in environmental matters.