Congress questions data centre push in Maharashtra

With Maharashtra declaring drought in 265 of its 358 talukas even as the state pushes to expand its data centre industry, the Congress on Sunday questioned whether scarce water resources would be diverted towards technology projects at the cost of farmers and ordinary citizens.

Congress spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera pointed to the state’s plans to attract more than $300 billion in data centre investments and increase its capacity to 5.7 GW by 2032, asking the Maharashtra Government to explain how it would balance the demands of the industry with those of a state facing widespread water stress.