The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has issued a show-cause notice to Tata Electronics Private Ltd. here for alleged effluent discharge into neighbouring agricultural lands and resultant contamination of groundwater sources. The notice, issued under Section 24 of the the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, has cited failure to take corrective measures prescribed in December 2025.

The show-cause notice has cited violation of Consent to Operate conditions which state that there should be no discharge of effluents, treated or untreated, at any point into storm-water drains, and any such discharge or emissions of noxious, polluting matter in streams, air, or water shall be conveyed to the PCB.

According to the notice, elevated levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) were detected in samples from a rainwater harvesting pond. The BOD was in the range of 12 mg/L to 78 mg/L as opposed to the range less than 8mg/L; COD was in the range of 48 Mg/L to 160 Mg/L as opposed to less than 15 MG/L; and TDS was as high as 2,450mg/L, while the normal range is under 50 PPM.

This revealed discharge of untreated wastewater into the pond, and the water from the pond was in turn discharged into the adjacent agricultural lands.

The firm has been given 15 days to respond as to why penal action, which includes disconnection of power supply and closure of the unit, should not be taken for its violations of the conditions of Consent to Operate.

Speaking to The Hindu, Collector C. Dinesh Kumar said it was found that the unit had violated norms “When we inspected the site, we found water being discharged from the rainwater harvesting pond into the adjacent land.”

Firm denies allegations

However, Tata Electronics, in a statement, denied any violations. The company stated that it was “committed to responsible business practices and protection of the environment”.

“Immediately after hearing from the TNPCB, we commissioned an independent analysis through an accredited laboratory. The independent study determined that we are in full compliance with all regulatory norms. We have conveyed our response to the TNPCB in a timely manner,” it said.