Indian officials stepped up government checks on farmland surrounding Apple supplier Tata’s iPhone parts factory near Bengaluru after Reuters reported state authorities found discharge from the plant had contaminated groundwater.
The southern Tamil Nadu state’s pollution body has warned Tata of a forced shutdown unless it explains why the body’s inspections between December 2025 and May 2026 found that wastewater discharge was affecting open wells in adjacent agricultural lands, Reuters reported on Saturday.
Tata says its independent analysis determined it was in compliance with regulatory norms and it was “committed to responsible business practices and protection of the environment and local communities.”
Reuters reporters on Monday saw a team of three district administration officials, who oversee agricultural land issues, surveying the fields, walking behind the Tata factory with farmers who had expressed concerns about alleged water odor and contamination due to discharge from the factory. Tata and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters’ inquiries.
Tata is crucial to the iPhone maker’s plans to accelerate its manufacturing shift away from China. Apple plans to source all U.S.-bound iPhones in India by the end of 2026, according to the Financial Times (a subscription is required to read the article).
The Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai. Established in 1868, it is India’s largest conglomerate. Tata Group comprises numerous affiliate companies, with Tata Sons as the holding company and promoter.
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