The rise against data centres

When residents of Balkum, Majiwada, and Dhokali in Thane first heard that Amazon was constructing a hyperscale data centre on their doorstep, they initially hoped it would bring jobs to their community. However, the scale of the facility – occupying 53 acres, consuming 422 megawatts of power, and using 125 kilolitres of treated water daily – has turned excitement into resistance.

The community fears the data centre will consume limited water, power, and space, impacting their quality of life. This concern is part of a broader backlash against data centres, which have faced protests in the US and other countries as AI adoption accelerates. In Thane, the protests have culminated in the #WakeupThanekar movement, questioning how a hyperscale facility could be permitted in the middle of a city.

A bureaucrat explained that unlike other data centres in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, which are built in existing industrial complexes, the Thane project is situated in a residential area, necessitating extra precautions. Water supply is one of the residents' primary concerns, as Thane already suffers from a daily shortage of 31 million litres of potable water, and the TMC is seeking additional supply.

The Amazon spokesperson assured residents that the data centre would use closed-loop cooling technology and not draw power from the local network, but these assurances have not quelled the residents' anxieties.