RSPCB regional officer removed, 2 officials suspended over untreated effluent discharge into Jojari River

Jodhpur: The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has placed its Jodhpur regional officer under awaiting posting orders (APO) and suspended two officials after an illegal pipeline discharging untreated industrial waste into the Jojari River was uncovered during a surprise inspection by a Supreme Court-appointed committee.

According to an order issued by the Board late Thursday night, Jodhpur Regional Officer Kamini Songara was relieved with immediate effect. Lab in-charge Devendra Singh and Assistant Environmental Engineer Kunal Khatri were suspended in connection with the case.

The action follows the discovery of a nearly 4-km-long underground pipeline allegedly used to discharge untreated effluents from textile factories directly into the Jojari River. The pipeline was linked to the Common Effluent Treatment Plant at Sangaria in Jodhpur, where wastewater was reportedly being diverted through an illegal line without undergoing mandatory treatment.

The illegal discharge came to light during a late-night surprise inspection conducted Wednesday by a high-power committee constituted by the Supreme Court to monitor pollution in the river system. Acting on a confidential tip-off, the committee raided the CETP premises and traced the hidden pipeline leading directly to the river. Authorities later used excavators to dismantle the line Thursday.