Protests over the production of cancer-linked Pfas chemicals have spread across India, following an investigation revealing that an Italian factory shut down due to an environmental scandal was acquired by an Indian company and partly rebuilt. The Guardian reported that the former Miteni plant in Vicenza, Italy, was purchased by Laxmi Organic Industries. The facility, which produced per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (Pfas), was closed in 2018 after being linked to one of Italy's worst environmental contamination incidents.
Background of the Italian Scandal
In June 2025, former Miteni executives were convicted for contamination linked to the plant, a decision widely considered a landmark for environmental justice in Europe. The factory left behind the contamination of one of Europe's largest aquifers, affecting over 350,000 people across the provinces of Vicenza, Verona, and Padua through drinking water. Miteni's workers were the most severely impacted, with one former employee showing one of the highest Pfas concentrations ever recorded in human blood. High levels of Pfas in the blood are associated with increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, liver and kidney damage, reproductive disorders, and other health issues.
Relocation to India
After the Italian plant's closure, its equipment was dismantled, shipped, and reassembled in Lote Parshuram, south of Mumbai. The factory's purpose remained unchanged: producing Pfas, often called “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence. The investigation revealed that Laxmi included in its portfolio some products previously manufactured by Miteni and maintained commercial relationships with former clients. Laxmi has denied allegations of pollution. Since early 2025, the Lote Parshuram site has been fully operational, producing chemicals used in pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, cosmetics, and other products.
Protests and Political Response
Following the Guardian's investigation, protests and political debates have erupted across India. On January 8, the first protest occurred outside the Lote plant, broadcast live by multiple television channels. On February 2, the issue reached India's parliament. In the Rajya Sabha, MP Pramod Tiwari called for a federal investigation into the authorization process, highlighting India's lack of specific Pfas regulations. “This pollution-related controversy has exposed major concerns over the transfer from Europe to India of industrial equipment linked to pollution, and over the lack of Pfas regulations in the country,” Tiwari said. Days later, Environment Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh confirmed in a written statement that no specific environmental regulation bans Pfas manufacturing in India.
Unanswered Questions
Several key questions remain unanswered. Documents show that by March 2018, months before the Italian plant shut down, plans for the Indian facility were ready, and work on the environmental impact assessment and construction permit applications had begun. These documents raise questions about how long the relocation plans had been in progress before the Italian site's closure.
International and Local Actions
In early March, a video call brought together Indian activists, European representatives from contaminated areas, scientists, and European Parliament members. The meeting was part of events organized by MEP Cristina Guarda and the European Environmental Bureau, discussing a proposed European ban on Pfas. On March 5, activists gathered outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, bringing the story back into the spotlight in India. On April 3, Laxmi held a press conference denying pollution allegations, stating it operates in full compliance with Indian regulations. The company did not respond to multiple requests for comment. By April, thousands had again taken to the streets in Lote to protest Pfas production and demand regulations. Demonstrations brought together environmental activists, local residents, and political representatives, and the national debate is expected to intensify.
Varrun Sukhraj, a writer, film-maker, and founder of activist group The Next Indians, said: “For years we were told this was the price of development. But no community should be forced to choose between jobs and health. What has been rejected in Europe cannot simply be moved elsewhere and repackaged as progress.”
Additional reporting by Anna Violato and Filippo Tommasoli. This investigation was supported by Journalismfund Europe and IJ4EU.
