A proposed hyperscale data centre at Balkum has triggered questions over water use, environmental approvals and public consultation as Thane faces an existing water supply deficit of around 30 million litres per day (MLD).
The 54-acre facility, proposed by Amazon Data Services India Pvt Ltd, is located near residential complexes, schools and hospitals. Environmentalists and opposition leaders have sought greater clarity on the project’s approvals and water requirements, with construction-related work underway at the site.
Manoj Pradhan, Thane district president of the NCP (SP), questioned whether the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documents had been made available to the public.
“Any project with a built-up area of more than 20,000 sq ft, whether residential or industrial, requires environmental clearance. However, in this case, the public is in the dark about the Environmental Impact Assessment report. If there is such a report, then it should be made public,” Pradhan said.
Pradhan also sought information from Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao regarding the facility’s proposed water consumption.
Amazon, however, rejected the allegations concerning water use and said it does not use water-based cooling at its Indian data centres.
“Amazon does not use water for cooling in its data centers in India, including the Thane site. It is false to state that this facility will use 12 MLD (Million Litres per Day), and we have provided the relevant planning documents to demonstrate this. We continue to comply with our environmental clearances and permits for this data center, which are publicly available on the Government’s environmental portal. We’re proud to invest in Maharashtra with a new state-of-the-art data center, and Amazon takes a holistic approach to minimising both energy and water consumption while meeting the highest health, safety, and environmental standards,” said an Amazon spokesperson.
Rao said the Thane Municipal Corporation would supply 12 MLD of treated sewage water to the project at ₹7.50 per 1,000 litres.
Pradhan also questioned a proposal for Amazon to construct 50 shelters in Thane under its corporate social responsibility programme.
“I came to know that Amazon will be constructing 50 shelters in Thane city as a CSR activity. I want to know if there is any quid pro quo arrangement between the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and Amazon,” he said.
Environmental concerns have also been raised over the facility’s proximity to residential and institutional areas. According to Pradhan, eight housing complexes, five schools and three hospitals are located within a one-kilometre radius.
Environmentalist Rohit Joshi alleged potential localised heat impacts from data centres, while Pradhan reiterated concerns over Thane’s water shortage.
“This is dangerous, as residents have not been consulted and the data centre poses serious health hazards. This seems to be just the beginning, as many more data centres could come up in residential areas,” Joshi said.
Thane resident Nishikant Bangera called for treated sewage water to be extended to construction sites currently using groundwater or potable supplies.
“If TMC is committed to providing recycled sewage water, then the same should also be provided to construction sites in the city which are currently using groundwater or potable water,” Bangera said.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
