India’s Digital Boom Comes at a Cost

As India pushes ahead with its ambitious digital growth, the country’s demand for data centres — the backbone of cloud computing, AI, and online services — is skyrocketing. But this rapid expansion has sparked growing concerns about water consumption, especially as many of these facilities are being constructed in water-scarce or drought-prone regions.

Data centres require millions of litres of water daily to cool their high-powered servers. In regions already battling declining groundwater levels, this industrial-scale consumption is straining local supplies. Residents in several states, including Maharashtra, Telangana, and Rajasthan, report increasing difficulty accessing clean water for domestic and agricultural use.

Experts warn that India’s digital infrastructure boom is colliding with its environmental realities. With big tech companies and telecom giants investing heavily in cloud facilities, the issue of sustainable cooling technologies and resource management has come under sharp scrutiny.

Environmentalists argue that while data centres fuel economic progress and digital inclusion, they also divert critical water resources away from vulnerable communities. Some facilities rely on groundwater extraction, while others tap into municipal supplies, intensifying competition over limited water reserves.

Policy analysts are urging the government to introduce clear sustainability standards, such as mandatory water recycling systems, renewable energy integration, and zoning regulations that prevent clustering in drought-hit zones.

As India races toward becoming a global data hub, the challenge lies in balancing technological advancement with ecological responsibility — ensuring that the thirst for digital growth does not leave its citizens high and dry.