India Data Center Expansion Causes Severe Groundwater Depletion

India's data center capacity grew from 375 megawatts in 2020 to 1,500 megawatts in 2025 to support artificial intelligence infrastructure. However, the World Resources Institute India reports that more than half of these facilities are located in water-stressed regions, leading to critical groundwater depletion.

In Ghaziabad, the Central Ground Water Board recorded groundwater extraction at 272% of recommended levels for 2024-2025. This overexploitation has forced local residents to dig deeper wells or pay for shared water access as industrial cooling needs compete with residential drinking supplies.

The Government of Uttar Pradesh's 2026 Data Center Policy Draft promises an uninterrupted 24x7 water supply to these facilities. Legal experts and critics argue this policy lacks transparency and regulatory oversight. Unlike the European Union, India does not require data centers to disclose their water consumption, raising concerns regarding social and distributive injustice in regions like Noida and Ghaziabad.