THANE, Maharashtra — Residents in Balkum and surrounding neighbourhoods have stepped up protests against a proposed data centre being developed by Amazon Data Services India on a 53-acre plot, saying the site is in the midst of dense residential settlement and could affect health and local services.
Local campaigners cite safety, environmental and infrastructure concerns
Campaigners under the banner Wake Up Thanekar (WUT) have organised demonstrations, including a human chain on July 18, and met Amazon officials to press their objections. The project, reported to involve an investment of about ₹47,000 crore, is expected to be one of the largest data‑centre facilities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, but residents say the primary issue is where it is being located.
Residents pointed out that the plot is surrounded by high‑rise buildings and three villages, and is close to schools, hospitals and a metro corridor. They warned the facility’s operations — particularly heat rejection systems and backup power generators — could impact living conditions and municipal services.
“I am not against data centre. I am against setting it up in the middle of the town and in our vicinity. There are high‑rises and three villages surrounding this centre. There are schools, hospitals and public transport like the metro near this plot. Hence, the location is wrong and hazardous,”
— resident Anuradha Rode, as reported.
Residents said they had prepared for the meeting with Amazon by consulting technical experts, but maintained that several of their environmental and technical queries remained unresolved. Megha Shetty, another WUT member, said the company did not satisfactorily address their primary concern about placing a large data centre in a densely populated area.
- Primary concerns: heat generated by cooling systems, noise from backup power, exhaust emissions and increased local power demand.
- Community context: proximity to high‑rises, three villages, schools, hospitals and metro services.
- Public actions: human‑chain protest on July 18 and follow‑up meetings with Amazon officials.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Site area | 53 acres |
| Estimated investment | ₹47,000 crore |
| Reported backup generators | Nearly 190 diesel generator sets (reported concerns) |
Residents have emphasised several technical and environmental points in their objections. They want clarity on how heat from cooling equipment will be managed within a compact urban setting, how noise and air pollution from standby diesel generator sets will be mitigated, and whether the local power grid can sustain the facility without frequent outages for neighbourhoods.
WUT participants say they engaged consultants prior to their meeting with Amazon representatives, and that many questions remained unanswered after the company session. The protest and meetings reflect rising public scrutiny of large data‑centre projects being planned near built‑up urban areas across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Officials from Amazon Data Services India were reported to have held discussions with residents; the meeting, according to residents, did not assuage their core concerns about site selection and possible impacts on local life. There has been no report in the material provided of any formal permission or environmental clearance decisions by municipal or state authorities regarding the Balkum site.
Local authorities and Amazon have not provided further details in the reporting examined here about planned mitigation measures, timelines for construction, or whether alternative sites have been considered. Residents say they will continue public mobilisation until they receive clear, satisfactory technical responses and assurances on safety, emissions and power arrangements.
The debate in Balkum mirrors wider tensions in fast‑growing Thane: balancing large infrastructure and commercial investments with the everyday needs and safety of long‑standing residential communities, gaothans and civic amenities. With the project’s scale — and the large investment figure attached — the issue is likely to draw attention from municipal and regional planners as well as state environmental and power authorities.
