Luni, Jojari Rivers: Supreme Court Orders SIT on Illegal Gravel Mining

The Supreme Court has directed Rajasthan to set up a Special Investigation Team within three days to probe organised illegal gravel (bajri) mining along the Luni, Jojari and Bandi rivers in Jodhpur, Balotra and Pali districts. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order on 26 October in its suo motu case “In Re: 2 Million Lives at Risk”, and the written order was reported on 6 November.

SIT Led by an IG-Rank Officer

The team is to be headed by an officer of Inspector General rank or above, with the Superintendents of Police of Jodhpur, Balotra and Pali as members. It must identify the people involved, the supply networks and the beneficiaries, and examine whether public officials helped or ignored the mining, according to LiveLaw’s report of the order.

No New Factories Near the Rivers

Until the High Flood Line and buffer zones are fixed scientifically, no new industrial unit may be permitted along or near the river system. The Court added a further 100-metre protective zone on each side of the recorded outer river boundaries and barred any Red Category industry within 500 metres of those boundaries. The existing grievance mechanism, set up on 7 August 2026, must now accept anonymised complaints about illegal gravel mining.

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The Central Ground Water Authority is to be made a party within a week and file an affidavit on groundwater in the three districts. The Balotra block has been classed as a Dark Zone since the 1990s, the report said. Rajasthan must also file a separate affidavit on concerns raised by petitioner Digvijay Singh Jasol.

Third Step in a Year-Long Case

The Court took up the pollution of the Jojari river on its own in 2025 and has said about two million people are at risk. On 26 October the same bench also warned that it could order a CBI inquiry if the state did not explain why mining areas flagged as illegal were later regularised; IPB News reported that hearing in Jojari River Case: Supreme Court Warns Rajasthan of CBI Probe. More Supreme Court reports are tagged on IPB News.

Status Report Due on 27 November

The SIT must file a status report when the case is next heard on 27 November 2026. The Court also said earlier closure directions of 18 March and 29 May do not stop the National Green Tribunal from hearing appeals against Rajasthan Pollution Control Board orders. Which officers the state names to the SIT is not yet known.

Source: Based on reporting by LiveLaw and LiveLaw (26 October hearing).

Image: LiveLaw.