Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Maharashtra Plans Data Centre Policy Addressing Environmental and Resource Concerns
Maharashtra plans to create rules for building and operating data centres.
Data centres use computers and equipment that can need lots of water and electricity.
They can also produce noise and heat.
The plan is being developed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and IIT Bombay.
New facilities may have to stay farther away from homes.
They may also need to use recycled or treated water instead of fresh municipal water.
Special equipment could be required to reduce noise from cooling systems and generators.
Officials also want to monitor heat and energy use.
The plan is expected to be completed in a few months.
Residents near a proposed AWS facility in Thane are concerned about these impacts.
Maharashtra is developing a data centre policy with IIT Bombay and the MPCB.
The policy is expected to regulate site selection, water use, noise, heat and energy consumption.
Proposed rules may require buffer zones separating data centres from residential areas.
Data centres may be required to use recycled or treated wastewater for server cooling.
Residents in Thane’s Balkum area oppose an upcoming AWS facility over noise, heat and resource concerns.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, IIT Bombay, state officials, data-centre operators and residents of Thane’s Balkum area.
- What
- Maharashtra is preparing a policy and operating procedures to regulate data-centre locations, water use, noise, heat and energy consumption.
- When
- The policy is expected to be finalised in a few months.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including the proposed Amazon Web Services facility in Thane’s Balkum area.
- Why
- The policy aims to manage environmental impacts while allowing new data-centre investment in the state.
Environmental Safeguards
Investment and Development
Data-centre locations
Environmental Safeguards
Residents and environmental concerns support keeping large facilities away from densely populated areas and creating buffer zones.
Investment and Development
State officials want safeguards while ensuring that new investment and data-centre development continue in Maharashtra.
Resource and operating impacts
Environmental Safeguards
Residents are concerned about noise, heat and heavy water or resource consumption from the proposed facility.
Investment and Development
The policy approach seeks to address these impacts through operating standards, recycled water, acoustic barriers and energy controls rather than stopping development.
- Policy authority
- Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, in collaboration with IIT Bombay
- Expected timeline
- Finalisation is expected in a few months
- Proposed site rules
- Mandatory buffer zones may separate data centres from residential clusters
- Water management
- Facilities may be required to use recycled and treated wastewater for server cooling
- Noise controls
- Advanced acoustic barriers may be required for cooling equipment and generators
- Environmental concerns
- Residents cited noise pollution, heat generation and resource diversion
- Proposed facility
- An Amazon Web Services data centre in Thane’s Balkum area