Mumbai: Dr Anil Kakodkar, ex-chairman of the National Atomic Energy Commission, will lead a 17-member committee to carry out a comprehensive study of the effects of data centres.
In Thane, residents of Balkumbh area have opposed the proposed Amazon Web Services 53-acre hyperscale data centre through the ‘Wake Up Thanekar’ movement. There is resistance across the world from local residents to the setting up of data centres in their neighbourhoods given the environmental costs. A GR states the industry minister had assured the legislative council that a committee would be constituted to study effects of data centres.
In a govt resolution issued on Monday, industry secretary P Anbalagan said during the recent monsoon session of the state legislature, members had raised concerns about the large requirement of water, electricity and land for data centres and the potential strain on existing water sources and infrastructure, the rise in temperature, environmental effects, as well as the impact of data centre projects on the daily life and basic amenities of local citizens.
IT minister Ashish Shelar recently stated that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will not only have the highest number of data centres but also the largest data centre. The Mahayuti govt is keen to develop Maharashtra as a leading data centre hub. The committee will study issues like water, electricity, environmental effects, heat emission, noise pollution, and effects on local people and submit a policy-oriented report to the govt based on objective, scientific and technical information. The committee, comprising senior bureaucrats from the energy, water conservation, industry and investments departments, MIDC, and the industry commissioner, among others, will conduct a scientific study. The other terms of reference include analyzing the causes of various misconceptions in society regarding data centres, studying best practices in India and abroad, suggesting guidelines for establishing energy-efficient, Green Data Centres, and sustainable data centres; making recommendations regarding water conservation, reuse and use of alternative cooling technology in data centres, preparation of principles of awareness and information dissemination for local villagers, local self-govt and public representatives, organising of technical workshops and seminars if necessary; suggesting of necessary administrative reforms by coordination between various departments; making recommendations regarding preparing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for data centres and making suggestions regarding increasing local employment, skill development, and social corporate responsibility (CSR) through the projects.