After a conflict between guards and farmers nearly ended in violence, Tata's Indian iPhone factory is now facing health authority accusations of contamination.
Early on June 15, 2026, India's Tamil Nadu Pollution Board (TNPCB) was reportedly threatening to force a shutdown of Tata's iPhone plant. It followed a series of inspections that reportedly found contaminated wastewater had reached local wells.
Tata was also accused of failing to respond to the TNPCB's complaints, but then on June 16, the case was dropped. Tata said first that its independent study showed it was following regulations, and then that the India regulator had now "dropped any further course of action on this issue."
Now according to Reuters, however, the local Indian health authority in the district is still pursuing a case based on complaints from local farmers. As reported to Tata, an inspection found discharge with a "severe foul smell," and left water "unsuitable for animals to drink."
That report to Tata also said that local people had been getting skin-related health issues due to the contamination.
Separately, a group of farmers crossed onto Tata's land on June 15 to photograph a reportedly contaminated pond. A Tata guard is said to have fetched a firearm, after which the group claims to have said "shoot us," before the security officer backed down.
It appears that this health investigation has been running since at least late May 2026. That's when the TNPCB reportedly concluded its own inspections.
The factory makes back panels and other iPhone components. Tata has been growing its iPhone manufacturing since 2023 when it bought Wistron's plant, and then went into partnership with Pegatron.
Neither Tata nor Pegatron has commented on the latest report. Apple has not commented publicly either.
