AI data centre will make Thane unliveable, says Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray warned that the upcoming AI data centre in Balkum Pada could make Thane unliveable on Tuesday (September 8, 2026). Thackeray criticized the project while meeting residents opposing the Thane Ring Metro and SGNP Master plan. He highlighted that the data centre would generate high noise levels, produce significant heat emissions from its cooling plant, consume vast amounts of electricity and water, and rely on 93 diesel generators with a 5 lakh tonne diesel reserve. Thackeray also demanded that the facility be relocated to a designated 'red industry' area.

Residents have long protested Amazon's proposed ₹7,203.29 crore project covering 53.73 acres in Thane. The citizen group 'Wake-up Thanekar' expressed concerns regarding the project's lack of transparency, discrepancies in data, insufficient public consultation, and the absence of information on the data centre's operational factors. Anuradha, a Balkum Pada resident, shared that they had reached out to various ministers and bureaucrats to relocate the site but had received no response.

The main issue faced by residents was understanding the distinction between traditional data centres and AI data centres. Anuradha explained that AI data centres require substantial resources, including electricity consumption equivalent to that of 6 lakh households and a diesel storage capacity of 5-6 lakh tonnes, which would be detrimental to the residential area.

Amazon Data Services India acquired 54 acres from Kalpataru’s subsidiary Ananta Landmarks for ₹1,870 crore in October 2022, paying ₹130 crore in stamp duty. They submitted an application for Environmental Clearances under the EIA Notification 2006 category of 'Townships, Area Development Projects and Rehabilitation Centres' in June 2024.