Hearing a suo-motu plea concerning pollution in the Sabarmati river, Gujarat High Court  expressed deep concern over a video that showed foamy, contaminated effluent being directly discharged into the river near Vishala. Taking serious note of the issue,a bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Vaibhavi Nanavati held an urgent hearing on July 29 and took to task the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) for what they termed “is an eyewash”.

The court accused these authorities of engaging in a blame game and failing to take decisive action to clean up the Sabarmati. Strict directives were issued to all industrial units, mandating compliance with legal norms and proper treatment of effluent before discharge. Both the GPCB and AMC were ordered to ensure adherence to these regulations.

Additionally, the court demanded detailed sworn affidavits from various parties, including the AMC Commissioner regarding the MEGA  pipeline project, and the GPCB regarding the efficiency and condition of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs). The Joint Task Force (JTF) also received a directive to submit a comprehensive report.

Expressing displeasure over the JTF’s inaction, the court even threatened dissolution if it remained unproductive. Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal criticised the AMC for neglecting its responsibility as custodians of the city, emphasising the need to maintain river cleanliness. The GPCB was severely reprimanded for allowing continued discharge of polluted effluent.

In response to the court's order, the GPCB assured immediate inspections of discharge points and pledged necessary corrective measures.