27 September,2026 02:30 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Pawan Khera. Pic/X
The Congress on Sunday questioned the Maharashtra government's push to expand the data-centre industry after the state declared drought in 265 of its 358 talukas, raising concerns over how water resources will be allocated between industry, agriculture and households.
The Maharashtra government on Saturday declared drought conditions in 265 talukas across 32 districts, covering about 74 per cent of the state, following deficient rainfall and prolonged dry spells. It also announced a series of relief measures, including crop loan restructuring, concessions on land revenue and relief on electricity bills for agricultural pumps.
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera questioned whether the expansion of data-centre infrastructure could put additional pressure on water resources in drought-affected areas.
Khera said Maharashtra has been seeking large investments in the data-centre sector and is targeting substantial growth in its capacity.
Maharashtra has attracted more than USD 300 billion in investment interest for data centres and has set a target of reaching 5.7 GW of data-centre capacity by 2032, according to industry-related statements made earlier this month.
"Data centres require two critical resources: power and water. The amount of water they consume depends on the cooling technology used, but water requirement is an important consideration, particularly in water-stressed regions like Maharashtra," Khera said.
He questioned how the state would ensure that water needed for drinking and agriculture would remain available while supporting new industrial infrastructure.
"But few crucial questions arise: When nearly three-fourths of Maharashtra is officially under drought, what is the government's plan to ensure that the state's water resources are not diverted away from farmers and ordinary citizens to fuel this massive data-centre expansion?" Khera said.
Khera also referred to a reported plan under which municipal corporations would treat sewage, with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation further purifying the treated water before it is supplied to data centres and other industries.
The Congress leader questioned why similar efforts were not being prioritised for agriculture in areas facing water shortages.
"And if the state is prepared to set up a network to treat sewage and reclaim water for industry, why has no such urgency been shown in providing reliable reclaimed water for farmers - which could help reduce the distress driving farmer suicides?" Khera said.
The Maharashtra government's existing data-centre policy provides for uninterrupted water supply to data centres in industrial development authority areas and says data-centre units should recycle water, where possible, to reduce their requirements.
The policy has made water availability part of the infrastructure planning for the sector, while the Congress has raised questions about how such industrial requirements should be balanced with the needs of drought-affected communities.
The drought declaration followed an assessment of rainfall and dry-spell conditions across the state. The government has invoked the first stage of its drought-management framework in the affected talukas.
The relief measures announced by the state include restructuring of crop loans, concessions in land revenue, postponement of recovery of agriculture-related loans and concessions on electricity bills for agricultural pumps.
The government has also directed district collectors to begin crop-loss assessments in the affected areas. Officials have been asked to document crop damage and submit assessments for determining further assistance.
A separate government resolution is expected to specify financial assistance for crop losses after the prescribed assessment process is completed.
According to the government resolution, the 265 drought-affected talukas are spread across 32 districts. The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division has the highest number of affected talukas, according to the government data cited in the report.
The rainfall deficit has affected several parts of Maharashtra, with districts in Marathwada, Vidarbha, western Maharashtra and northern Maharashtra among the areas reporting significant shortages. State data cited in recent reports showed that the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division received 424.5 mm of rainfall between June 1 and September 18, against normal rainfall of 613.1 mm, a deficit of 30.8 per cent.
Maharashtra has been positioning data centres as part of its broader digital infrastructure and investment strategy. State officials have said the sector is expected to play a significant role in the state's economic expansion, with the government targeting 5.7 GW of capacity by 2032.
The scale of the proposed expansion has brought renewed attention to the sector's requirements for electricity and water. Industry officials have acknowledged that both resources are fundamental to data-centre operations.
(With inputs from PTI)
