New Delhi: Waaree Energies Ltd on Saturday denied that its South Gujarat factory polluted a village stream, calling the allegations "factually unsubstantiated" and demanding that Mint withdraw its report, CNBC-TV18 reported. "The water discharge referenced in these reports consists of non-hazardous Reverse Osmosis reject wastewater," the company said in a statement, adding that its wastewater came only from clean drinking water and canteen food preparation and stayed within controlled environmental limits.

Source: CNBC-TV18 via TradingView

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, and just outside the village merges into the Vanganiya river, a tributary of the Ambika river. Mint's ground report said it had obtained, through RTI filings, six notices the GPCB sent to the Chikhli plant over 18 months, and alleged that on two occasions the plant's effluent treatment systems were not working, even though the plant is meant to operate as zero liquid discharge. Those claims are Mint's allegations, reported as such.

Source: CNBC-TV18 via TradingView

What is solid

  • Waaree Energies issued a statement on Oct 31 denying the pollution allegations and demanding Mint withdraw its Oct 29 report (CNBC-TV18).
  • Mint's Oct 29 investigation alleged untreated discharge into the Chanandevi stream at Sunthwad village, Chikhli taluka, Navsari, citing GPCB notices obtained via RTI.
  • In a separate Oct 29 stock-exchange disclosure, Waaree said the GPCB had issued a closure direction in January for its Degam solar cell plant, revoked before it took effect, with revocation extended on conditions to December 2026.

What is only claimed

  • Whether the Chikhli plant discharged untreated industrial effluent into the stream: Mint alleges it did; Waaree says its only discharge is non-hazardous RO reject and canteen wastewater within limits.
  • Whether the plant's treatment systems failed on two occasions, as Mint reported from GPCB notices; Waaree says it passed audits and holds official clearances.

Waaree said it cooperated fully with the 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 had never received a complaint from local residents and that its community relations team was now contacting villagers directly. The company accused the publication of reporting what it called "minor, initial-stage operational adjustments" during rapid expansion, said any such instances were negligible, non-hazardous and resolved immediately, and argued the coverage created panic among villagers and workers who depend on the plant.

Source: CNBC-TV18 via 7Globe

Separately, in a Regulation 30 disclosure dated October 29, Waaree told stock exchanges that the GPCB had issued a closure direction on January 28, 2026 for its solar cell plant at Degam in Navsari district after a January 6 inspection recorded non-compliance; the direction was revoked before it took effect, the revocation was later extended for six months on conditions including compliance by December 2026, and the company paid interim environmental damage compensation of Rs 9 lakh and furnished bank guarantees of Rs 8 lakh, a summary of the NSE filing reported. Waaree's shares closed 0.60% lower on Friday, October 30; the stock is down 22.04% year-to-date and 32.87% over the trailing 12 months, CNBC-TV18 reported.

Source: Vyqon (NSE filing summary)