NGT upholds right to life of Jodhpura villagers, orders rehabilitation and compensation

In a landmark judgment on November 3, 2025, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Central Zone Bench in Bhopal upheld the “Right to Life” of villagers from Jodhpura in North Rajasthan, directing wide-ranging remedial measures against environmental and health damages caused by the mining and stone crushing activities of UltraTech Cement Ltd. The order was delivered by Judicial Member Sheo Kumar Singh and Expert Member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi in the case Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti vs Union of India & Ors (O.A. Nos. 143/2024 and 144/2024 CZ), marking a victory for the villagers after more than 1,060 days of struggle.

The petitioners, represented by environmental lawyer Rahul Choudhary, Partner at DC Law Chambers LLP, had sought relief and compensation for large-scale damage to health, environment, and property caused by limestone mining and crushing operations within a 548.78-hectare lease area that includes Jodhpura village. The villagers complained of air and water pollution, depletion of groundwater, damage to homes and the government primary school due to blasting, and severe health issues.

Kailash Chand Yadav of Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti said that the NGT order had brought hope after nearly three years of struggle. “Our village continues to face dangerous conditions as it remains within the mining lease area,” he said, highlighting structural damages and persistent air and noise pollution. Lalita Devi, another villager, added that blasting occurs less than 300 metres from homes and the school, with crushers located just 82 metres away, violating pollution control norms that mandate a minimum 1.5-kilometre buffer from habitation.

Radheshyam Shuklawas of the Khanan Grasth Sangharsh Samiti, Kotputli, said that UltraTech had failed to comply with environmental clearance conditions. “There has been no regular monitoring of air quality or controlled blasting. Stones from blasts have fallen inside the school premises,” he said. He added that PM2.5 and PM10 levels had spiked far above permissible limits, and over 298 villagers were treated for respiratory and skin ailments.

According to a 2023 report by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), groundwater levels in Jodhpura and Mohanpura villages have dropped sharply since mining began. The report, prepared under environmentalist Rohit Prajapati, found that only 10% of groundwater sources remained functional. A state government water analysis in 2024 confirmed contamination of local water sources, with hardness, nitrate, and total dissolved solids exceeding safe limits.

The NGT, citing evidence of extensive damage to homes and the school, held that blasting activities had endangered life and property. It directed the Rajasthan government and UltraTech to undertake immediate remedial action. The order called for the formation of a committee, headed by the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, to rehabilitate affected families away from the mining zone. It also mandated a 500-metre safety buffer from all dwellings and schools, restricted blasting to daytime with warning sirens, and prohibited operations within the designated radius.

The tribunal awarded compensation of ₹50,000 each to households with structural damage and ₹20,000 each to affected residents for environmental and health impacts, to be paid by UltraTech within three months. It also ordered medical camps every two weeks, permanent treatment facilities for affected persons, and water conservation and recharge work to restore groundwater levels under supervision of the Central Ground Water Authority. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been directed to ensure regular monitoring of pollution control equipment and water sprinkling at the site, while UltraTech must establish a green belt within six months and develop grazing land for livestock.

Environmental activist Kailash Meena welcomed the order, saying it reaffirmed the principle of absolute liability for industrial hazards. “The burden of proof lies with the company. The absence of scientific certainty cannot justify inaction when human lives are at stake,” he said.

Medha Patkar, co-founder of NAPM, said the verdict reaffirmed state accountability. “The Chief Secretary must constitute the committee for rehabilitation without delay, in consultation with the Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti. The false cases filed by UltraTech against villagers should also be withdrawn immediately,” she stated.

Neelam Ahluwalia of People for Aravallis called for stricter enforcement of mining regulations across the Aravalli range. “Illegal and unregulated mining is destroying India’s oldest mountain system. The Aravallis act as a barrier against desertification and are crucial for groundwater recharge. The state has an international responsibility under the Stockholm Declaration to safeguard natural ecosystems for future generations,” she said.

The judgment has been hailed as a significant precedent in environmental justice and community rights, underscoring that industrial operations cannot override the constitutional right to a clean and safe environment.

The joint press release was issued by Jodhpura Sangharsh Samiti, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Rajasthan, and People for Aravallis Group.

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