Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Thane Residents Protest Amazon Data Centre Plans
A lot of people in Thane, near Mumbai, are upset because Amazon wants to build a big data centre near their homes and schools.
They had a big protest to ask Amazon to move the data centre to a place meant for big buildings, not where people live.
They are worried about things like water and electricity use, noise, and traffic.
Amazon says they have special plans to not use the local water and electricity, but the people still want more information and meetings to talk about it.
The local leaders are now talking to both the people and Amazon to find a solution.
Nearly a thousand residents of Thane district protested against Amazon's 422 MW data centre near housing societies and schools.
Residents demanded the data centre be relocated to an industrial or technology zone due to concerns about water and power infrastructure, heat generation, noise pollution, traffic congestion, and reduced green cover.
The protest was organized by Wakeup Thanekars (WUT) after Amazon did not directly respond to their initial concerns raised in June.
Amazon stated that the facility will not draw power from the local grid and does not use water for cooling in its Indian data centres, including the Thane site.
WUT submitted a 5-page document with 22 questions and 10 written submissions, including requests for a water supply agreement, thermal impact assessment, and public information meetings.
- Who
- Residents of Thane district, Mumbai, under the banner of Wakeup Thanekars (WUT)
- What
- Protest against the construction of Amazon's 422 MW data centre in a residential area
- When
- July 19, 2026
- Where
- Balkum Naka, Thane district, Mumbai
- Why
- Concerns about the impact on water and power infrastructure, heat generation, noise pollution, traffic congestion, and reduced green cover
- Location
- Balkum Naka, Thane district, Mumbai
- Protest Organizers
- Wakeup Thanekars (WUT)
- Data Centre Capacity
- 422 MW
- Land Area
- 54.73 acres
- Backup Power
- 193 diesel generators
- Protest Date
- July 19, 2026
- Amazon's Response
- Dedicated high-voltage substation, water-positive in India, no water used for cooling in India
- Resident Concerns
- Water and power infrastructure, heat generation, noise pollution, traffic congestion, reduced green cover
