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• NCP (SP) has opposed a proposed 54-acre data centre project in Thane, citing concerns over water availability and environmental impacts.
• The party claims the facility could intensify the region's recurring water shortages and pose health risks to nearby residents.
• Leaders have questioned the approval process and called for the state government to withdraw clearances granted to the project.
• The controversy highlights the growing challenge of balancing digital infrastructure expansion with local resource constraints.
A proposed 54-acre data centre project in Maharashtra's Thane district has run into political opposition, with the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) raising concerns over its potential impact on water resources and public health. The party has urged the state government to reconsider the project, arguing that the region is already grappling with periodic water scarcity and cannot afford additional pressure on essential resources.
According to the party, the project is planned near Waghbil village in Thane district. NCP (SP) leaders contend that large-scale data centres require substantial amounts of water for cooling systems, which could further strain supplies available to residents, especially during the summer months when several parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region experience shortages.
NCP (SP) national spokesperson and MLA Shri Jitendra Awhad has called for the immediate withdrawal of the clearances granted to the project. He argued that development initiatives should not come at the cost of basic civic necessities and warned that the project could adversely affect the daily lives of local communities.
Apart from concerns over water consumption, the party has also raised environmental and health-related issues. It claimed that heat generated by the facility and the management of chemicals and other operational by-products could have long-term implications for surrounding areas if adequate safeguards are not put in place. The party has sought a comprehensive assessment of the project's environmental impact before any further steps are taken.
Another point of contention is the approval process itself. NCP (SP) leaders alleged that local residents were not sufficiently consulted and demanded greater transparency regarding the clearances and studies associated with the development. They argued that community participation is essential for projects of this scale, particularly when they involve critical natural resources.
The controversy comes at a time when Maharashtra is positioning itself as a major destination for data centres and digital infrastructure investments. With demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services driving the need for large facilities, concerns over land use, water consumption and sustainability are increasingly becoming part of the broader debate surrounding such projects.
While the state government has yet to issue a detailed response to the objections, the dispute underscores the challenge of balancing economic growth and technology-driven investments with environmental sustainability and the interests of local communities. As Maharashtra continues to attract data centre investments, questions surrounding resource management and public consultation are likely to gain greater prominence.
Source PTI
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