Tamil Nadu Board Threatens Tata Electronics Plant Shutdown

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board threatened Tata Electronics Private Limited with a forced shutdown and power disconnection at its Hosur facility. The regulator issued a show-cause notice dated May 25, alleging that the plant, which produces iPhone back panels and components, contaminated groundwater in adjacent agricultural lands. According to the board, wastewater discharged into an internal rainwater harvesting pond overflowed into local open wells.

These allegations follow five state inspections conducted between December 2025 and May 2026, triggered by complaints from farmers who reported foul-smelling, discolored water and reduced crop yields. The regulator further claimed that the company failed to implement corrective actions ordered on December 23, 2025. On June 15, 2026, district administration officials surveyed the affected farmlands to assess the contamination.

Tata Electronics rejected the findings, stating that an independent analysis by an accredited laboratory confirmed the facility is in full compliance with regulatory norms. Apple Inc., which relies on the site to diversify its manufacturing away from China, did not respond to requests for comment. The incident adds to a series of challenges for Apple's Indian expansion, including previous labor disputes and plant fires.