Key facts
- An Indian pollution regulator alleges wastewater from a Tata Electronics factory for Apple's iPhones contaminated groundwater near farms in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.
- The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board warned of a potential forced shutdown unless Tata provides a satisfactory explanation.
- Inspections found wastewater discharged into a rainwater harvesting pond overflowed, polluting adjacent agricultural land wells.
- Tata Electronics claims an independent analysis shows full compliance with regulatory norms.
- This incident adds to recent issues faced by Apple's Indian supply chain, including fires at other facilities.
An Indian pollution regulator has accused Tata Electronics, a key supplier for Apple's iPhones, of contaminating groundwater near its factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) alleges that wastewater discharged from the plant polluted farmland wells and has warned of a potential forced shutdown unless Tata provides a satisfactory explanation.
Complaints from farmland owners near the plant led to five state inspections between December 2025 and May 2026. According to a regulatory notice reviewed by Reuters, these inspections found that Tata discharged wastewater into an internal rainwater harvesting pond, which then overflowed and contaminated the groundwater in adjacent agricultural lands. The notice also stated that Tata had not taken corrective actions as instructed in a previous letter from December 2025.
Tata Electronics, however, stated that an independent analysis commissioned by the company determined it was in full compliance with all regulatory norms. The company affirmed its commitment to responsible business practices and environmental protection, and indicated it had responded to pollution authorities.
This situation adds to a series of challenges faced by Apple's supply chain in India. In recent years, other incidents have included fires at Tata's Hosur plant and a former supplier's facility, as well as an investigation into alleged discriminatory hiring practices by Foxconn. India is projected to significantly increase its share of global iPhone production in the coming years.