Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant on Thursday, 25 June announced that the state government will constitute a high-level expert committee — to be chaired by veteran nuclear scientist Dr Anil Kakodkar — to comprehensively assess the impact of data centre projects on water, power, the environment, global warming, and the livelihoods of local communities. The announcement was made on the floor of the Maharashtra Legislative Council in response to a calling-attention motion.

What Triggered the Announcement

The motion was moved by Shiv Sena MLC Manisha Kayande, who flagged the environmental and public health risks posed by the rapid proliferation of data centre projects across the state. Her concerns spanned the massive consumption of water and electricity, noise pollution, land acquisition pressures, climate change implications, and the actual quantum of employment these facilities generate for local residents.

Minister Samant acknowledged the concerns and noted that Maharashtra had already adopted a Green Data Centre Policy in 2026, adding that its provisions warranted a thorough, expert-led review before further expansion.

Scope of the Expert Committee

According to Samant, the proposed panel will include senior officials and domain experts drawn from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), municipal corporations, and the Department of Industries. Once the committee submits its report, the government intends to finalise binding guidelines covering environmental norms, mandatory tree plantation, e-waste management, and water resource conservation for all data centre projects in the state.

Samant added that the government would formally request Dr Kakodkar to accept the chairmanship of the committee.

Water Use: No Drinking Water for Data Centres

A central concern raised during the debate was whether data centres would draw on drinking water or agricultural water supplies. Samant categorically ruled this out, stating that data centres in Maharashtra would be permitted to use only tertiary treated water — processed from sewage — supplied by the Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Panvel municipal corporations, as well as CIDCO and agencies within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

To build the necessary treatment and supply infrastructure, major companies are making significant investments. Amazon is reportedly investing approximately ₹500 crore, while Blackstone is committing around ₹2,000 crore for this purpose. Data centre projects in the Khalapur and Taloja areas are estimated to require 200 million litres of treated water, while the project in the Trans Thane Creek industrial area will need 100 million litres. Since demand will be met entirely through treated wastewater, local drinking water and agricultural water resources will remain unaffected, according to the minister.

Global Study Tour and Green Commitment

During the debate, members including Aniket Tatkare, Sanjay Khodke, and Dr Rajeev Poddar raised additional demands — efficient e-waste management, exploring the use of seawater, assessing financial benefits to local self-governing bodies, and studying global best practices. In response, Samant announced that a state government expert team would be deputed to Abu Dhabi and other countries to study advanced green data centre technologies.

The minister reiterated that every data centre in Maharashtra would be required to qualify as a 'Green Data Centre', and that the government would not compromise on environmental standards or public interest in its pursuit of industrial growth and job creation. Maharashtra's broader target is to establish a data centre capacity of 30 to 40 gigawatts (GW) in line with its 'Developed Maharashtra 2027' objective.

The committee's report is expected to shape the regulatory framework that will govern one of India's most ambitious data centre build-outs — with its findings watched closely by industry and environmentalists alike.