The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed a joint inspection of Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan after an application raised concerns over alleged encroachments, unauthorised salt-production activities and extraction of groundwater and lake brine within the wetland.
The NGT's Central Zone Bench, Bhopal, considered the matter on September 28, 2026, and directed the formation of a four-member committee to establish the factual position at the site.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: NGT orders joint inspection of Sambhar Lake.
Location: Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan.
Authority/Organisation: National Green Tribunal and four-member government committee.
Action Taken: Site inspection and factual/action-taken report ordered.
Impact: The investigation will establish whether the alleged activities are affecting the wetland and whether regulatory action is required.
The committee will include representatives of the Jaipur District Collector, Rajasthan State Wetland Authority, Central Pollution Control Board and Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been designated as the nodal agency.
The tribunal has directed the committee to inspect the affected areas and submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks.
The application before the tribunal alleges that unauthorised salt pans have been created within the lake's boundaries and that areas recorded as lakebed have been encroached upon.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Sambhar Lake is an ecologically important saline wetland, making changes to its water inflows, groundwater conditions and salinity potentially significant for its wider ecosystem. The tribunal's intervention is also important because the allegations involve multiple activities and regulatory areas, including land use, salt production, groundwater extraction and wetland conservation. The joint inspection is expected to provide a coordinated assessment rather than relying only on individual departmental reports. For now, the key development is the investigation itself. The NGT has not yet determined that all the allegations in the application are proven.
It also alleges that numerous borewells are being used for groundwater and brine extraction, along with pipelines, heavy machinery and other infrastructure.
Additional allegations concern obstruction or diversion of natural water inflows through bunds, anicuts and irrigation-related activities in the catchment area.
These allegations will now be examined through the joint inspection. They should not be treated as established violations until the committee completes its assessment and the tribunal considers the findings.
