Ganesh Naik Opposes Data Centres in Thane Residential Areas, Backs Legal Action
Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra forest minister Ganesh Naik on Wednesday opposed the construction of data centres in residential areas across Thane, specifically in localities such as Balkum, Majiwada, and Dhokali. Addressing citizens during a Janata Darbar at the Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium in Thane city, Naik urged protesting residents to challenge the developments in court and promised to raise their grievances with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Naik's statements come amid sustained pushback from local residents and activists who have demonstrated over the past two months against the environmental impact of data centres and their heavy consumption of electricity and water. Among the key sites under contention is an Amazon Web Services facility currently being built on a 54-acre plot in Balkum. Residents pointed out that the facility sits amidst housing complexes, schools, hospitals, and community infrastructure.
During the public hearing, citizens appealed to Naik to help shift the data centres out of residential localities. Naik stated that while digital infrastructure is needed, such facilities cause noise and air pollution and consume substantial resources, making residential zones unsuitable for their construction.
Naik told attendees that although he would present their views to the chief minister, legal action remained a critical pathway. He noted that if residents challenge data centres located in residential zones in court, the judiciary would take into account the environmental issues and adverse effects on public life.
The pushback occurs alongside the state government's broader plans for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). In June, Fadnavis outlined a ₹16.7 lakh crore development plan aimed at turning the MMR into India's central data hub, projected to host 60% of the nation's data centres. A September 2024 NITI Aayog report similarly projected the MMR economy to reach $1.5 trillion by 2047, driven largely by digital infrastructure and investment.
During the Janata Darbar, which was attended by citizens, BJP corporators, and opposition leaders, Naik also criticised the Thane Municipal Corporation over its allocation of ₹2,800 crore worth of Transferable Development Rights to a private company in exchange for acquired reserve forest land, questioning the resulting burden on city infrastructure.
