Supreme Court Slams Govt Over Hidden River Pipeline

The Supreme Court expressed severe displeasure over a 4-km concealed pipeline allegedly used to discharge untreated industrial effluents into Rajasthan's Jojari River near Jodhpur. A court-appointed committee discovered the underground network, reportedly connected to textile industries operating via a local Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP).

The bench questioned how such a substantial illegal discharge system could operate unnoticed by state authorities and the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board. The court emphasized the critical need to identify and prosecute all individuals involved, from the lowest to the highest levels.

Responding to the court's concerns, the Rajasthan government assured that immediate action had been taken. This included dispatching a special team, suspending two Pollution Control Board officials, and transferring senior officers. Criminal proceedings and environmental compensation actions were initiated.

Furthermore, the state government committed to forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by a senior IPS officer to investigate the entire incident. All 306 textile units connected to the CETP, along with the CETP itself, were shut down for investigation and rectification.

The court was also cautioned about the extensive contamination of the Jojari-Bandi-Luni river system and the urgent necessity to remove toxic sludge before the monsoon to prevent further spread into agricultural lands and groundwater. The state argued against an immediate CBI probe, emphasizing its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy and the planned SIT.

The Supreme Court recorded the state's assurances, highlighting the deeply disturbing scale of environmental degradation that has persisted for years under judicial scrutiny. The chairperson of the Rajasthan Pollution Control Board also assured the court that violations would not be tolerated.