Indian Residents Protest Amazon and Google Data Centers

Residents near Mumbai are protesting the construction of an Amazon data center, citing concerns over noise pollution and the strain on local water and power supplies. The facility is part of a $21 billion investment by the company into India's AI infrastructure by 2030, a move that aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal to establish India as a global data hub.

Amazon has defended the project, stating the facility will use water-free cooling and a dedicated power supply separate from residential grids. However, opposition legislator Aaditya Thackeray has joined local protesters in demanding the project be relocated. Similar resistance has emerged in Andhra Pradesh against a $15 billion Google data center project due to land-use and environmental concerns.

While the Government of India promotes these facilities as essential engines for the digital economy, local communities and opposition politicians argue that industrializing residential areas threatens public resources and quality of life. This friction comes as other tech giants, including Microsoft, have unveiled investment plans totaling $20.5 billion for AI data centers across the country.