“We will not allow you to eat (crunch) our data at the cost of our drinking water!”
Report of the Correspondent of Kamgar Ekta Committee
“We don’t want, we don’t want! We don’t want the Data Center!” This slogan could be heard far and wide as nearly a thousand people gathered outside the gates of Amazon’s planned data Center in Thane city, adjoining Mumbai. In October 2022, Amazon Data Services India bought 54.73 acres of land in Thane’s Balkum area for Rs. 1870 crore. Amazon plans to build a 422 MW Data Center here. The plot is right in the middle of a densely populated area. An increasing number of people are becoming aware that if the Data Center is built and operated, Thane will become unliveable.
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What is a data centre? A data centre is a physical room, building or facility that houses IT infrastructure for building, running and delivering IT applications and services. It also stores and manages the data associated with those applications and services. It houses the servers, data storage, and networking hardware required to store, process, and deliver digital data and applications. Data centres form the invisible backbone of the modern digital economy, powering everything from cloud computing and mobile apps to artificial intelligence and enterprise websites. Any activity done on-line through laptop or mobile goes through a data centre. Artificial intelligence has led to the need for ‘hyperscale’ data centres, consuming hundreds and even thousands of MW of power. The largest data centre in India presently is only of 60 MW capacity whereas the plans to set up many data centres of 1000 MW or more capacity in India have already been announced. A house typically has 3 to 5 kilowatt (KW) power connection. 1 MW = 1000 KW |
The protest was organized by a group of activists under the banner of “Wake Up Thanekar,” (WUT) (Thanekar: Marathi for resident of Thane) and included a large cross-section of people from all walks of life. Engineers, doctors, professors, IT workers and other professionals staying in modern high-rise buildings descended onto the streets in large numbers, along with those residing in near-by slums. Student and Environment activists had joined in from across the adjoining city of Mumbai. There were a large number of women and even children. The ages of the demonstrators varied from, 5 to 80! What is notable is that apart from activists of a large number of people’s organisations, people from various political parties – opposition as well as ruling that normally do not come together in public – were on the road.
Various speakers declared that irrespective of political affiliation or inclination, they were united for this demand: We don’t want the Data Center!
Extensive mobilisation had been carried out by various organisations as a part of this campaign. A very vibrant Whatsapp group has been set up by activists of WUT and hundreds have joined it. Activists had approached different representatives at various levels. On July 11, the WUT had organised a painting activity for the children who reside in a complex of high rise buildings. It is very evident that this campaign has struck a chord among the residents of that complex. On 18th July, they came marching in a procession in large numbers, displaying the beautiful and evocative creations against the Data Centre. After speeches by those who took the initiative in organising the demonstration, the floor was thrown up for the ordinary citizens.
As various speakers pointed out, there is outrage against Data Centers all over the world, particularly in the US and various countries in Europe. The reasons are:
- Data Centers need crores of litres of water, which they guzzle at the cost of the neighbouring communities. Water sources get polluted.
- They require humongous amounts of electricity. Since electricity is largely privatised in most of these countries, this results in increased power bills for the ordinary citizens.
- Ambient temperatures rise by a few degrees.
- Those living close-by are subjected to noise 24×7, which affects their sleep and peace of mind.
- There is concern about the long term effects of noise at frequencies below the audible range.
- There is concern about the accumulation of power in the hands of the monopolies who set up the Data Centers – they say that data is like the new oil – who controls data will control the world!
In the USA, there are 188 people’s organisations in 40 states against the Data Centers. So much so that 14 states are considering moratorium on construction of data centres and New York State has already imposed the moratorium.
Many speakers declared that while they support advanced technology, including AI, it should not come at their cost and that of ordinary people for the benefit of billionaires and their corporations!
Speakers condemned the Central and state governments:
- Why is the Central government subsiding Data Centers to the tune of tens of thousands of crores by a tax holiday for the next 20 years?
- Why has the Maharashtra government laid down a policy which gives various incentives and subsidised electricity?
- Why has the government made a policy that Data Centers will be treated like residential buildings for environmental approval?
- The Maharashtra government has declared that the Data Center will be an “essential service”. This means that in the event of shortages, water and power will be allocated to it as a priority. This is terrible! How can a Data Center’s needs be treated at par with hospitals? How can it be prioritised over the needs of common citizens?
- How can such a big monster be unleashed on the people without honestly informing them about the consequences and taking their consent?
Others pointed out the specific dangers that all Thanekars would face:
- The Thane Municipal Commission will supply 12 MLD (i.e., 12 million litres a day or 1. crore litres) of water per day to the facility. However, as per Thane’s own municipal budget, the city faces a daily water shortfall of approximately 30 MLD and many societies depend on water tankers.
- We already face frequent power cuts. What will happen when the Data Center starts drawing power?
- It should also be noted that a 440 kV substation is proposed to be built to supply power to the data Center. This substation and the accompanying network will be built using public money! This means that our tax money will be used for the benefit of big corporates and to our detriment.
- The Data Center needs full electric power back-up round the clock. So they are going to have 193 diesel generators. These will have to be run every day to ensure they are functioning. The resultant noise will be deafening and lead to anxiety and insomnia.
- The Data Center is being built in a residential area: the closest residential complex is merely 40 metres away from the project boundary. Eight large housing complexes, five schools, and three hospitals are located within a 1-km radius.
- Data Centers are known for creating heat islands, with the temperature around facilities rising by as much as 2°C to 9°C. The effect will be felt by everyone within about 5 km of the Center. This means that most of Thane’s citizens will suffer, apart from those living in adjoining areas of Mumbai.
- The claim that Amazon will create plenty of jobs is a big lie! After completion, there will be a maximum of 150 regular jobs only!
India is fast becoming a focus for these man-eating Data Centers and various ministers are boasting about this. The one being constructed in Vishakhapatnam is laying waste to the environment in general. A large number of trees have already been cut for this purpose and once operational, it will heavily pollute the water supply. The Maharashtra government wants to welcome Data Centers with open arms, focusing them on Mumbai and adjoining areas, which are among the most densely populated regions of the world!
The demonstration lasted for over 3 hours, and the people dispersed after vowing to intensify the fight.