Thane MP Naresh Mhaske Demands Stay on Balkum Amazon Data Center Project
Thane Member of Parliament (MP) Naresh Mhaske has officially submitted a memorandum to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) Commissioner and the District Collector, demanding an immediate stay on the proposed Amazon data center project in Balkum, Thane. The lawmaker called for a transparent, independent probe into allegations of rampant and unauthorized tree felling at the project site.
The intervention by the MP follows intense opposition from local housing societies in the area, including Lodha Amara, Fairfield, and VFVA. Environmental activists and citizen forums have also joined the protest against the project.
According to the memorandum, the sprawling data center project poses severe risks to the local ecosystem and urban infrastructure. Residents have expressed fears that the facility will lead to a severe strain on resources, as data centers consume vast amounts of electricity and water. This threatens to worsen the existing water scarcity in Thane.
Additionally, the operation of heavy machinery and cooling systems is expected to escalate traffic congestion, air pollution, and noise decibels. The site is heavily surrounded by dense residential complexes, schools, and hospitals, which residents argue directly threatens public health and quality of life.
MP Mhaske highlighted a distinct lack of transparency regarding the project's socio-economic benefits. He noted that details on local employment generation and city development remain undisclosed. Citizens have also raised doubts over whether statutory environmental clearances are being strictly followed.
"A project cannot progress at the cost of public welfare. There is clear evidence that tree felling has exceeded the permissions granted by the TMC," Mhaske stated. He has called for a committee of independent experts to re-evaluate all sanctions.
The MP has urged authorities to halt all ongoing work immediately, make all environmental and traffic impact reports public, and conduct an official public hearing to address the grievances of local stakeholders.
Amazon responds
In a statement to Hyderabad Feed, an Amazon spokesperson said all tree felling at the Thane data center site had been carried out lawfully under a valid permit from the Thane Municipal Corporation, and that the company is planting more native trees on the site to replace those removed. The spokesperson said Amazon continues to comply with its environmental clearances, which are publicly available on the Government's PARIVESH portal.
Addressing residents’ concerns over strain on local resources, the spokesperson said the facility will run on its own dedicated high-voltage substation, planned in coordination with the utility, and will not draw or divert power from the local distribution grid serving homes and businesses. On water, Amazon said it does not currently use water for cooling at its data centers in India, including the Thane site, and does not draw from the community’s drinking or potable water for cooling. The company added that it recently became “water positive” in India, returning more water to communities than it uses.
"All tree felling at our Amazon data center site in Thane has been carried out in compliance with the law and Amazon has a valid permit issued by the Thane Municipal Corporation. For every tree removed, we are planting more native trees on the site. We continue to comply with our environmental clearances and permits for this data center, which are publicly available on the Government's PARIVESH environmental portal. Also, this facility will not draw or divert power from the local distribution grid that serves residential and commercial consumers, but through its own dedicated high-voltage substation, planned in coordination with the utility. We're proud to invest in Maharashtra with a new state-of-the-art data center, and we recently announced that Amazon became water positive in India, returning more water to communities than it uses. Amazon does not currently use water for cooling in its data centers in India, including our Thane site, and we do not draw from the community's drinking or potable water for cooling purposes. Amazon takes a holistic approach to minimising both energy and water consumption while meeting the highest health, safety, and environmental standards." — Amazon spokesperson
