Protest held in Thane against proposed data centre over 'environmental threats'

Thane, Jul 18 (PTI) Several hundred persons held a protest on Saturday against a proposed data centre in Balkum in Thane city, which they claimed poses severe environmental and other threats. The data centre, which is coming up on a 53-acre plot, will require at least 12 million litres of water every day along with "unlimited electricity", claimed the protesters, who hailed from areas like Balkum, Kolshet and Dhokali. Furthermore, it is expected to generate continuous noise of up to 90 decibels, posing severe health risks to pregnant women, children, and senior citizens in the region, they added. There are over eight large residential complexes, five schools, and three hospitals, including a children's hospital, within a 1-km radius, the protesters pointed out. The data centre could push temperatures by up to 3 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius, they said. A delegation of the protesters, under the banner of 'Wake Up Thanekar', had held a meeting with the Thane civic chief and representatives of the firm that is setting up the data centre on Thursday. It did not lead to a solution to their demands, the protesters claimed. PTI COR BNM