The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has accused the company of allowing wastewater from its Hosur manufacturing plant to contaminate agricultural land and open wells in the surrounding area. The facility, located in Tamil Nadu, produces back panels and other components used in Apple's iPhone manufacturing operations.
The allegations stem from complaints filed by landowners near the factory, who reported for several months that wastewater released from the plant was affecting their farmland and contaminating open wells. According to a regulatory notice dated May 25 and reviewed by Reuters, the complaints prompted five separate inspections by state authorities between December 2025 and May 2026.
During the inspections, officials found that Tata Electronics had discharged wastewater into a rainwater harvesting pond situated within the factory premises. The pollution control board alleged that the pond subsequently overflowed, leading to contamination of groundwater in open wells located on adjacent agricultural lands.
In its warning notice, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board directed Tata Electronics to explain why electricity supply to the unit should not be disconnected and why the facility should not be shut down for the alleged violation of environmental regulations.
Responding to the allegations, Tata Electronics stated that it had commissioned an independent assessment through an accredited laboratory. According to the company, the analysis concluded that the facility was operating in full compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements.
The company further stated that it remains committed to responsible business practices and the protection of the environment and local communities. Tata Electronics also confirmed that it had submitted a response to the pollution authorities, although it did not disclose further details.
Apple, which maintains strict standards governing wastewater management among its suppliers, did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. The Tamil Nadu government also did not provide a response.
The latest development adds to a series of challenges that have affected Apple's manufacturing ecosystem in India in recent years. In September 2024, a fire at Tata's Hosur plant temporarily disrupted the production of iPhone components. Earlier, in September 2023, a fire at an iPhone manufacturing facility operated by former Apple supplier Pegatron halted production for several days.
Apple's supply chain in India also faced scrutiny in 2024 when a Reuters investigation reported that major supplier Foxconn had systematically excluded married women from iPhone assembly jobs at one of its Indian facilities. Foxconn stated at the time that it complied with all applicable laws.
Environmental compliance remains a significant issue across India's industrial sector. In 2024, Mercedes-Benz enhanced wastewater and air pollution management practices at its only automobile manufacturing plant in India after authorities identified lapses in compliance with environmental regulations.
According to information provided by India's Environment Ministry to Parliament in February, 4.4 percent of 544,364 industries inspected over the past five years were found to be non-compliant with environmental standards. The ministry stated that approximately 3,600 industrial units were subsequently shut down by pollution control authorities.
The allegations against Tata Electronics come at a crucial time for Apple's manufacturing ambitions in India. Research firm Counterpoint projects that India will account for 26 percent of global iPhone production in 2026, a significant increase from just 6 percent four years earlier. As India continues to emerge as a major global manufacturing hub for Apple, the outcome of the investigation into Tata Electronics is likely to draw close attention from regulators, industry stakeholders, and international supply chain observers.
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