Tata’s iPhone-parts factory accused of pollution:Tamil Nadu Pollution Board warned of power cut and plant closure

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has alleged that wastewater from Tata Electronics’ iPhone components factory has contaminated the groundwater of nearby fields. The regulator has warned the company that if a satisfactory response is not received, the factory’s electricity will be cut off and it will be forcibly shut down. Complaints received about contamination of water in fields and wells This Tata Electronics plant is located in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, where iPhone back panels and other parts are manufactured. Owners of agricultural land near the plant had complained to the pollution board that the factory’s wastewater was contaminating the water in their fields and open wells. It was after this complaint from the farmers that the pollution board began investigating the matter. 5 inspections conducted, accused of not following instructions According to the regulator’s notice, following complaints from farmers, the plant was inspected 5 times at the state level between December 2025 and May 2026. In the three-page notice issued on May 25, 2026, the board stated that Tata had discharged dirty water into the rainwater harvesting pond built within its premises. This pond overflowed, contaminating the groundwater of open wells located in the surrounding agricultural land. Earlier, on December 23, 2025, the board had also issued directives to the company, but Tata did not take any corrective action on them. Tata’s claim – We are fully complying with the rules Tata Electronics has clarified its stance on this entire matter. The company stated in a statement that they had an independent analysis conducted by an accredited laboratory. This study revealed that the company is fully complying with all regulatory norms. The company is committed to responsible business practices, environmental protection, and the safety of local communities, and they have sent their response to pollution authorities. However, Tata has not provided detailed information about this response. Apple’s India supply chain has faced difficulties before This notice has emerged as a new problem for Apple’s supply chain in India. Earlier, in September 2024, a fire broke out at Tata’s same Hosur plant, which temporarily halted the production of iPhone components. Meanwhile, in September 2023, a fire at Apple’s former supplier Pegatron’s iPhone plant also disrupted operations for several days. Additionally, an investigation in 2024 revealed that Foxconn kept married women away from assembly jobs at one of its Indian plants, although the company claimed compliance with all regulations. Why is Tata Electronics important for Apple? Tata Electronics is very important for Apple as the company wants to expand its iPhone production outside of China. In South Asia, Tata Electronics has become Apple’s second-largest supplier after Taiwan’s Foxconn. According to research firm Counterpoint, four years ago, India’s share of total iPhones produced globally was just 6%, which is estimated to increase to 26% by 2026. Record of factories being shut down for violating rules In India, disciplinary action has been consistently taken against companies for not complying with pollution control rules. The Ministry of Environment informed Parliament in February that out of 5,44,364 industries inspected in the last five years, 4.4% were found to be violating environmental standards, after which pollution control departments shut down 3,600 factories. Earlier in 2024, after violations were caught at Mercedes-Benz’s only Indian car plant, the company had improved its wastewater and air pollution management. What are Apple’s Supplier Rules? Apple enforces very strict rules (Supplier Code of Conduct) for its suppliers. Under this, there are strict guidelines regarding wastewater (factory wastewater) management and environmental protection. If a supplier violates these rules, Apple can suspend or terminate its contract with them. In this matter, no official statement has been issued by Apple or the Tamil Nadu government yet.