Rajasthan Rivers Choked by Industrial Waste

A nine-member panel has reported significant regulatory failures concerning industrial pollution in Jodhpur, Pali, and Balotra, Rajasthan. Many industrial units are brazenly discharging hazardous waste directly into the river system, leading to widespread environmental damage. This unchecked pollution has resulted in catastrophic consequences, including contaminated groundwater, destroyed vegetation, and serious health risks for millions of residents.

The panel's findings indicate that vast tracts of land have been ruined by illegal waste dumping. Untreated sewage and industrial effluents are being channeled through stormwater drains, and even public infrastructure has been submerged and rendered unusable by toxic waterlogging. The situation is described as "extremely disastrous" with long-term harm to communities.

The Nehda dam on the Bandi river, once a freshwater reservoir, has transformed into an industrial drain, creating a nightmare for nearby villages and the local ecosystem. Water samples collected fail to meet even basic quality standards, and farmers report wells yielding colored, salty water that destroys crops. Livestock are also affected, with reports of infertility and disease.

Key recommendations include stricter oversight of effluent treatment plants, immediate closure of illegal units, and stringent enforcement by the state pollution control board. The panel also proposed a multi-disciplinary assessment of the pollution's impact and a framework for compensation. The Supreme Court had previously taken suo motu cognisance of the alarming pollution of the Jojari river.