SC directs Rajasthan to set up coordination group, river commission to restore polluted rivers
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Rajasthan government to form an integrated coordination group and a river commission to restore the polluted Jojari, Bandi, and Luni rivers. The court mandated the use of satellite mapping and AI-based surveillance to monitor environmental compliance.
Why it matters
This judicial intervention addresses severe industrial pollution and ecological degradation, setting a precedent for institutional accountability in environmental conservation.
The Supreme Court on Friday (August 7, 2026) directed the Rajasthan government to constitute, within seven days, an integrated coordination group headed by the Chief Secretary to implement its directions for restoring the Jojari, Bandi and Luni river system. It also ordered the creation of a river commission to oversee the conservation of rivers across the State.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that material placed before the court by various stakeholders revealed severe degradation of the riverine ecosystem and illegal discharge of industrial effluents, warranting immediate intervention and a coordinated institutional response.
“The State of Rajasthan shall, within a period of seven days, constitute an ‘Integrated Coordination Group’ headed by the Chief Secretary,” the Bench ordered, adding that the group could include senior government officials, pollution control authorities and other experts.
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