“Unabated Pollution” in Jojari–Luni–Bandi River System: Supreme Court Panel Flags Regulatory Failure — A Legal Analysis
1: INTRODUCTION A court-appointed committee under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India has delivered a scathing indictment of environmental governance in Rajasthan, highlighting “unabated” industrial pollution in the Jojari–Luni–Bandi river system. The report underscores a systemic collapse of regulatory enforcement , raising serious concerns about environmental protection, public health, and constitutional accountability. 2: FACTUAL BACKGROUND The Court took suo motu cognisance (September 2025) based on media reports A nine-member high-level committee was constituted in November 2025 Headed by Sangeet Lodha Affected Regions Jodhpur Pali Balotra Key Finding Rivers transformed into a toxic mix of sludge, untreated industrial effluents, and sewage 3: SCALE OF POLLUTION Nearly: 1000 textile units in Balotra 500+ units in Pali 300+ textile and 80 steel units in Jodhpur Many units—particularly in estates developed by Rajasthan Industrial Development and Investmen...