Maharashtra Is Facing Drought. Please suspend work at Amazon site.

 *AN APPEAL TO CM DEVENDRA FADNAVIS*

*Maharashtra Is Facing Drought. Please suspend work at Amazon site. Prioritise Water Security Before Data Centre Expansion!*

To,

Hon. Shri Devendra Fadnavis,

Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Respected Chief Minister,

This is my fifth letter to you on the subject of the Amazon Data Centre coming up in Balkum, Thane.

Speaking at the Rising Bharat Summit in Mumbai, you have acknowledged that data center developments face resistance globally and that people tend to pick up on negative aspects quickly. To address these concerns directly, you have outlined the state's strategic response: that the state government is actively creating Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and policies which will outline the socio-economic benefits of the project and clarify how the state intends to mitigate environmental risks.

Drought conditions 

Today's letter is for a different reason.

Maharashtra has declared 265 talukas drought-affected, with only around 755 mm of rainfall this monsoon. We are still not a water-surplus state. Farmers are struggling, villages face water scarcity, and cities are under growing pressure on their water resources.

In this situation, I earnestly appeal to you: Please do not rush into approving or expanding water-intensive hyperscale data centres across Maharashtra, particularly in densely populated Thane.

This is not opposition to investment, Amazon, AI or technological progress. It is a call for responsible and sustainable development.

My humble requests:

1. Pause fresh approvals: Temporarily defer new hyperscale data centre approvals and expansions in water-stressed regions until comprehensive water-security assessments are completed.

2. Suspend work at the Amazon Data Centre site in Balkum Thane till the report of the Kakodkar Committee is ready.

3. Independent water audit: Publicly disclose the actual and projected water requirements of existing and proposed data centres, including the Balkum–Majiwada project in Thane.

4. Protect drinking water: Ensure that data centres do not compete with citizens' drinking water or farmers' essential water requirements.

5. Mandate water efficiency: Prioritise treated wastewater, water recycling and advanced, water-efficient cooling technologies wherever technically feasible.

6. Choose appropriate locations: Prefer suitable industrial and technology zones with assured water availability over densely populated residential areas.

Chief Minister, Maharashtra needs investment, jobs, AI and world-class digital infrastructure. But development cannot be measured merely in crores of rupees invested. It must also be measured by whether our farmers have water for their crops and our citizens have safe drinking water.

The present drought is a warning. Let us not create additional pressure on an already stressed water system through hurried decisions.

Maharashtra must become a digital powerhouse, but not at the cost of its farmers, citizens and future generations.

I urge you to put water security before the rush for data centre expansion.

With sincere regards,

Dayanand Nene

#WakeUpThanekar

Thane, Maharashtra