Supreme Court bans construction within 100m of Rajasthan's Jojari river

The Supreme Court has imposed interim no-build and anti-pollution restrictions along Rajasthan's Jojari river. The move seeks to protect the damaged riverine ecosystem until scientific buffer lines are finalised.The matter has been posted for hearing on September 22. (Representative Image)The Supreme Court on Monday barred any construction or development activity within 100 metres from the edge of Rajasthan's Jojari river, saying interim protection was needed to safeguard the riverine ecosystem while a scientific exercise to determine the high flood line and ecological buffer zones is still pending.The court also said no hazardous industry or activity with the potential to cause pollution, contamination or other damage to the riverine ecosystem will be allowed within 500 metres on either side of the existing flood line, wherever it has been identified, or the river's present flow path. The matter has been posted for hearing on September 22.A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order in a suo motu case concerning contamination in the Jojari river. The bench referred to the serious extent of ecological degradation and the widespread destruction of the riverine ecosystem. Earlier, the apex court had also flagged pollution in the Bandi and Luni rivers in the state.In its order, the bench said, "... we are of the considered view that it is necessary to put in place an interim, definite and measurable area of protection so as to adequately safeguard the riverine ecosystem during the pendency of the scientific exercise for determination and demarcation of the high flood line and the requisite ecological buffer zones." It added, "Hence, we hereby direct that no construction or development activity of any nature whatsoever shall be permitted within a distance of 100 metres from the edge of the river in accordance with the aforesaid guidelines." Observing that the high flood line is yet to be scientifically determined and demarcated, the bench further said, "... we consider it necessary, as an additional interim safeguard, to direct that no hazardous industry or activity having the potential to cause pollution, contamination or other damage to the riverine ecosystem shall be permitted within a distance of 500 metres on either side of the existing flood line, wherever such flood line has been identified, or the present flow path of the river until completion of the scientific exercise for determination and demarcation of the high flood line and the requisite ecological buffer zones." The detailed order is awaited.On August 7, the top court had directed the Rajasthan government to set up within a week an Integrated Coordination Group headed by the chief secretary to deal with contamination in the Jojari, Bandi and Luni rivers. The Jojari river passes through Jodhpur, the Bandi river flows through Pali and the Luni river runs through Balotra, with the Bandi and Jojari joining the Luni near Balotra city. The latest order, passed in the Jojari contamination case, puts interim restrictions on construction and polluting activities near the river while the scientific process to mark the high flood line and ecological buffer zones continues.- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 24, 2026 13:01 IST