Waaree Energies Ltd denied on Saturday October 31, that its South Gujarat factory polluted a village stream, calling the allegations “factually unsubstantiated” and demanding that the publisher, Mint, withdraw the report.
Waaree Energies Denies Allegations
The company said the water it released was harmless, a claim that matters because the stream runs through farmland and joins a river.
“The water discharge referenced in these reports consists of non-hazardous Reverse Osmosis reject wastewater,” the company said in a statement. Reverse osmosis is a water-purification method.
The company said its wastewater came only from clean drinking water and canteen food preparation and stayed within controlled environmental limits.
Waaree said it cooperated fully with the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) during every investigation, technical audit and field inspection. “We implemented every compliance requirement, successfully passed fair audits, and received complete official clearances,” the company said.
It added that plant leadership never received a complaint from local residents, and that its community relations team was now contacting villagers directly.
The statement followed a Mint report published on Thursday, October 29, which alleged that the factory had been releasing untreated industrial water straight into the Chanandevi stream.
The stream cuts through Sunthwad village in Chikhli taluka, Navsari, in South Gujarat’s agricultural belt. Just outside the village, it merges into the Vanganiya river, a tributary of the Ambika river.
Waaree Asks For Withdrawal Of Report
Waaree accused the publication of reporting what it called “minor, initial-stage operational adjustments” during rapid expansion. The company said any such instances were “negligible”, non-hazardous and resolved immediately. It argued that the coverage created panic and mistrust among villagers and workers who depend on the plant for their livelihoods.
Waaree asked the publication to withdraw the post immediately, saying the report relied on “unsubstantiated claims despite official regulatory clearances”.
The shares of the company closed 0.60% lower at the end of trade on Friday, October 30. The stock has registered losses of 22.04% in the year-to-date period while falling another 32.87% in the trailing 12-month period.
Also Read: Muthoot Finance Q2: Net profit rises 27% to ₹2,978 crore, NII up 34%; beats estimates