Congress questions Maharashtra's data centre push during severe drought

Opposition Congress leaders in Maharashtra have launched a scathing attack on the state government's push to expand the data centre industry, contending that such expansion is ill-timed and economically misguided given the region's acute water crisis.

The party has argued that promoting energy-intensive data centre infrastructure during drought conditions places additional strain on already-depleted water resources and diverts government attention from immediate agricultural and rural welfare needs. Congress representatives have questioned whether the state's fiscal priorities align with the urgent requirements of drought-affected farmers and communities.

The Maharashtra government has positioned data centre development as a cornerstone of its economic diversification strategy, projecting significant job creation and technology sector growth. However, opposition voices contend that such initiatives should be delayed until the drought situation stabilizes and water security improves across agricultural regions.

The controversy reflects broader tensions in Maharashtra between industrial development ambitions and resource management concerns, with Congress demanding that the government reassess its infrastructure priorities in light of the prevailing agrarian crisis.