Now Reading: Thane residents oppose Amazon data centre over heat, noise fears
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Thane residents oppose Amazon data centre over heat, noise fears
Thane residents oppose Amazon data centre over heat, noise fears
Residents of Thane's Balkum area, under the group Wake Up Thanekar, have intensified their opposition to Amazon Data Services India's proposed data centre on a 53-acre plot. They cite concerns over heat…
The Story in Brief
Residents of Thane's Balkum area, under the group Wake Up Thanekar, have intensified their opposition to Amazon Data Services India's proposed data centre on a 53-acre plot. They cite concerns over heat from an estimated 80,000 air conditioners, noise from 190 diesel generator sets, and the facility's 420 MW power demand. A human-chain protest was held on July 18, followed by a meeting with Amazon officials.
Amazon has responded, stating the facility will not use water for cooling, will use air-cooled chillers, and will get power from a dedicated extra-high-voltage substation without drawing from the local grid. The company says it will comply with noise rules. Residents remain unsatisfied, arguing the location, surrounded by high-rises, schools, and a metro line, is unsuitable for a hyperscale data centre.
The Indian Opinion
Residents have every right to question a Rs 47,000 crore facility in their backyard, but the debate risks drowning in speculation. Amazon says it will use no water for cooling and draw power from a dedicated substation, yet the sheer scale of 80,000 air conditioners and 190 diesel generators is hard to brush aside. The real test will come after construction: does the neighbourhood actually get hotter or suffer more outages? That data, not promises, will settle whether this is NIMBYism or a genuine environmental blind spot.
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
