Aaditya Thackeray writes to Fadnavis over AI data centre proposed in Thane

Shiv Sena UBT MLA from Worli Aaditya Thackeray has written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis raising concerns over an artificial intelligence AI data centre proposed in a residential area of Thane and questioning the decision to locate the facility thereIn a post on social media Thackeray said that the project had been imposed on Thane residents and alleged that several concerns raised by citizens remained unanswered despite protests against the facilityMy letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra on the AI Data Centre thatrsquos been forced on Thanekars After the protest of citizens I participated in a committee has been set up by the regime but it consists of almost all ex officio members of the administration apart from its head Multiple questions remain about energy consumption noise pollution heat release and security The citizens are questioning the location and do NOT want an AI Data Centre in the midst of a residential area Why canrsquot it not be moved to a red industry MIDC What policy allowed the builder to bring this data centre here Will only builders be heard by the regime Will the regime ignore citizens for builder benefitmdash Aaditya Thackeray AUThackeray October 24 2026Shiv Sena UBT leader further said that a committee had been constituted by the state government following a protest in which he participated However he questioned its composition claiming that almost all its members apart from its head were exofficio members of the administrationThackeray asserted ldquoAfter the protest of citizens I participated in a committee has been set up by the regime but it consists of almost all ex officio members of the administration apart from its headrdquoThe Shiv Sena UBT leader highlighted concerns over the proposed data centres energy consumption noise pollution heat emissions and security implications He said residents were questioning the location of the facility and did not want an AI data centre in the middle of a residential neighbourhoodThackeray questions why data centre cannot be shifted to MIDCIn his letter to the Chief Minister Thackeray questioned why the facility could not be relocated to an industrial area designated under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation MIDCHe wrote ldquoMultiple questions remain about energy consumption noise pollution heat release and securityThe citizens are questioning the location and do NOT want an AI data centre in the midst of a residential areardquoHe also sought clarity on the policy that allowed the developer to bring the data centre to the proposed location asking what permissions and planning decisions had enabled the project to come up in a residential areaRaising questions over the governments response to residents objections Thackeray asked whether the administration would consider citizens concerns or prioritise the interests of buildersldquoWill only builders be heard by the regime Will the regime ignore citizens for builder benefitrdquo he asked in his postAaditya raises residents concerns over the projectThe proposed data centre has drawn opposition from residents concerned about its potential impact on the surrounding neighbourhood Thackerays objections centre on the suitability of the location and the need for greater clarity on the facilitys environmental and safety implicationsData centres supporting AI infrastructure require substantial electricity and cooling capacity Depending on their design and operations they can also generate equipment noise and release heatResidents concerns have therefore raised questions about the infrastructure requirements and compatibility of such facilities with densely populated residential areasThackerays letter seeks the state governments intervention in addressing these issues and reviewing the location of the project