The Maharashtra government has formed a high-level committee led by former Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar to assess the impact of data centres across the state. The panel will examine environmental, infrastructure and socio-economic concerns and recommend measures for sustainable operations.
The government issued a resolution late Monday announcing the committee’s formation. It has given the panel three months to submit its final report.
The move comes as Maharashtra seeks to strengthen its position as a major data centre hub. However, lawmakers have raised concerns about rising electricity and water demand, land use, noise pollution and potential environmental effects.
The committee will bring together government officials, industry representatives and technical experts. Additionally, it will examine international practices and recommend policy changes to support sustainable data centre development.
Maharashtra data centres committee to assess environmental impact
The committee will conduct scientific and technical assessments of data centres’ effects on water resources, energy consumption, air quality, noise levels and local ecosystems.
It will also examine concerns about temperature increases, environmental degradation and the effects of data centre operations on nearby communities.
The panel’s formation follows a calling attention motion raised by Maharashtra Legislative Council members under Rule 101 during the 2026 Monsoon Session.
Lawmakers highlighted the substantial demands data centres can place on electricity, water, land and existing infrastructure. They also raised questions about noise pollution and the impact on residents’ daily lives.
Industries Minister Uday Samant had assured the legislature that the government would establish a committee of domain experts. The new panel will now examine these concerns and recommend appropriate policy responses.
Furthermore, the government has tasked the committee with addressing public misconceptions through objective, evidence-based assessments. This mandate combines technical evaluation with public communication.
Who are the members of the committee?
Kakodkar will chair the panel, which includes senior officials from Maharashtra’s energy, water resources, industries and environment departments.
The committee also brings together representatives from electricity utilities, research institutions, academic bodies and data centre operators.
Key members include:
- Dr Anil Kakodkar: Former chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and committee chairperson.
- Senior government officials: Representatives from the Energy Department, Water Resources Department, Industries, Energy and Labour Department, and Environment and Climate Change Department.
- Industrial development and electricity bodies: Officials from the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Directorate of Industries, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. (MSETCL).
- Research and technical institutions: Dr S. Venkat Mohan, director of CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur; Prof. M. V. Rane of IIT Bombay; and Prof. Dr Shamita Kumar of Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.
- Industry representatives: Srinivasa P., senior vice-president for data centre design at Yotta Data Services; and Prasad Kalyanraman, vice-president for infrastructure services at Amazon Web Services.
- Environmental consultancy: Prof. Dr Shyam R. Asolekar, managing director of Preventive Environmental Management Techno-Legal Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai.
The Commissioner (Services), Directorate of Services, will serve as the member secretary.
Additionally, the committee can invite other government officials and domain specialists when required. This provision will allow the panel to seek specialised inputs during its assessment.
Panel to recommend water conservation and green data centres
The Maharashtra data centres committee will recommend practices to improve energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. It will study domestic and international approaches to developing greener data centre infrastructure.
Water management will form a key part of its mandate. Specifically, the panel will examine water conservation, recycling and alternative cooling technologies.
These measures could help address concerns over data centres’ water requirements. However, the recommendations will depend on the committee’s technical assessments and findings.
The panel will also examine ways to establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) for data centres across Maharashtra. These guidelines could provide a consistent framework for operations and environmental management.
Furthermore, the committee will recommend administrative improvements across government departments. The objective is to strengthen coordination on data centre-related issues and policy implementation.
Committee to examine local employment and public awareness
Beyond environmental and infrastructure concerns, the panel will assess the socio-economic effects of data centre development.
It will recommend measures to promote local employment and skill development. The committee will also examine opportunities to strengthen corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Public communication forms another part of its mandate. The panel will propose awareness frameworks for local villagers, municipal and other local self-government bodies, and public representatives.
These initiatives aim to improve public understanding of data centre operations and their potential impacts. Consequently, the committee’s recommendations will cover both technical safeguards and engagement with affected communities.
Maharashtra sets three-month deadline for report
The government has directed the committee to submit its final report within three months of the government resolution.
MIDC, the Directorate of Services and the Directorate of Industries will provide administrative, technical and financial support to the panel.
The report is expected to guide the state’s approach to data centre development and regulation. It will address environmental safeguards, resource management, infrastructure planning and socio-economic considerations.
The committee’s findings will help the government evaluate how Maharashtra can pursue data centre investment while addressing concerns about water, energy, local infrastructure and communities.
