The proposed Thane data centre in Balkum has come under opposition from local residents, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray writing to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over concerns about its location, energy use, noise, heat emissions and safety.
Thackeray said in a post on X that residents had questioned why an artificial intelligence data centre was being proposed in the middle of a residential area. He said residents had taken the position that the project should not be allowed at the proposed location.
The project is located in Balkum, Thane. According to Thackeray, several questions about its environmental and civic impact remain unanswered. These include the amount of energy the facility would consume, the noise it could generate, the heat it could release and the safety arrangements planned for the site.
Thackeray also questioned the planning and approval process behind the proposal. He asked under which policy the builder had been permitted to bring the data centre to the location and whether the project could instead be shifted to an MIDC zone designated for “Red Category” industries.
The reference is significant because large data centres require substantial power and operational support, while their location also raises questions about compatibility with surrounding land uses. In this case, however, the supplied report does not provide the proposed facility’s capacity, power requirement, construction schedule, land-use approval, environmental assessment or details of the approving authority.
Thackeray alleged that the project could worsen Thane’s water problems and accused the administration of continuing to support builders and vested interests. He said the government should not ignore citizens’ concerns over projects that could be detrimental to the city and its residents.
The proposed data centre is also located in Thane, an area politically associated with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and a longstanding rival centre to the Thackeray faction after the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena. The political context forms part of the public dispute, but the specific objections raised concern the project’s location and expected demands on urban infrastructure.
The report does not state whether the chief minister’s office, the builder, Thane civic authorities or the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has issued a response. It also does not confirm whether construction has begun or whether any formal decision has been taken on relocating the facility.
