On a balcony overlooking a construction site in Mumbai, 46‑year‑old engineer Tushar Shetty watches trees disappear under a red‑earth scar. The site is part of Amazon’s $21 billion AI‑infrastructure plan for India, a flagship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambition to host the world’s data.
Local opposition grows
Residents say the project threatens their water supply, electricity reliability and health. In September, more than a hundred locals, many seniors, gathered with placards that read “Data centres are energy vampires.” Vasudha Shetty, 62, who bought a flat near the 54‑acre site, warned, “If the data centre stops, we will stay … If it goes ahead, we will move.”
Interviewed by Reuters, over two dozen neighbours described the loss of a once‑green view, increased noise, and worries that children and the elderly could suffer health effects. More than 1,000 people claim they were not consulted before the project was approved.
Government and corporate response
The Modi administration has publicly defended the development, calling data centres “the invisible engines powering India’s digital life.” Officials argue that modern facilities use water and electricity more efficiently than older models. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Prime Minister’s Office and Maharashtra’s chief minister’s office declined to comment directly.
Amazon counters that the centre will use water‑free cooling, a dedicated power supply separate from residential grids, and noise‑mitigation measures. The company also says it has planted more saplings than trees removed. Internally, a source familiar with planning said officials believe the protests will subside, and Amazon is drafting community‑outreach plans to address concerns.
Resource pressures in India
India holds only 4 % of the world’s freshwater for 18 % of its population. S&P Global estimates that 60 % to 80 % of Indian data centres could face high water stress this decade. In 2025, data centres used about 150 billion litres of water; research firm Mordor Intelligence projects that figure will more than double by 2030.
Industry voices echo the locals’ worries. Sharad Agarwal, CEO of Sify Infinit Spaces, which operates 14 data centres, said at a recent event, “I will never set up a data centre in a residential area. Centres need abundant, uninterrupted power and water … and near homes they risk being starved of both in a shortage.”
Political fallout
Opposition legislators have joined the protests. In Mumbai, Aaditya Thackeray, a member of the Shiv Sena, pledged to move the project if his party returns to power. In Andhra Pradesh, environmentalists are challenging Google’s $15 billion data‑centre plan over wildlife, water and alleged land‑use violations.
Local real‑estate broker Atul Jadhav warns that buyer concerns about views and property values could depress resale prices nearby. “We will come out on the roads and do whatever it takes to stop it,” said 68‑year‑old resident Vidya Kadam, who has lived in the area for three decades.
What’s next?
The dispute highlights a clash between India’s drive to become a global AI hub and the everyday realities of water scarcity and community wellbeing. While the government emphasizes the strategic importance of data‑centre infrastructure, residents continue to demand a quieter, safer neighbourhood. The outcome will shape how India balances high‑tech growth with the needs of its citizens.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
