July 14, 2022: Amara Raja Batteries has been granted a fresh extension of an interim suspension of orders seeking to close some of its production plants, the company said in a regulatory statement issued on June 29.

The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board had originally issued closure orders in 2021 for the lead battery group’s plants at Karakambadi, Tirupati and Nunegundlapalli, in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state, amid allegations involving environmental regulations.

However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court issued the further suspension of the orders on June 29 — scheduling another hearing to be held into the matter at a date to be announced in 12 weeks’ time.

Amara Raja company secretary Vikas Sabharwal said in the regulatory statement that Amara Raja continued to “place the highest priority on the environment, health and safety” of its workforce and communities around its plants.

The High Court has suspended the closure orders at several hearings since early in 2021, after Amara Raja warned that closures of any of its facilities could have a calamitous impact on back-up power supplies for India’s hospitals and other essential services.

On May 20, company CEO Jayadev Galla (pictured) said Amara Raja would fast track development of a customer qualification plant for lithium cells while also building on its lead battery foundations.