MUMBAI, Aug. 20 -- Senior BJP leader and forest minister Ganesh Naik said he is opposed to data centres being set up in residential areas and encouraged citizens resisting them to challenge them in court. Naik's comments come amid a massive pushback against data centres being set up in Thane, where citizens and activists are campaigning against their environmental impact and the diversion of essential resources such as water and electricity. Naik expressed his views at a Janata Darbar (people's court) in Thane on Wednesday. "We need data centres. But since they affect people's lives through noise and air pollution, and require large amounts of water, I think data centres should not be set up in residential areas. People opposing them should also go to court." he said. The protests in Thane concern data centres proposed in Balkum, Majiwada and Dhokali, particularly one currently being built by Amazon Web Services on a 54-acre plot in Balkum. Protestors, who have been demonstrating for the last two months, point out that the facility is in the midst of residential complexes, schools, hospitals and other community infrastructure. On Wednesday, citizens appealed to Naik to get the data centre shifted out of the locality. He said he understood their concerns and would take up the matter with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Naik's stand must be seen against the backdrop of Fadnavis's ambitions for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), of which Thane is an integral part. An ambitious Rs.16.7 lakh crore plan is currently underway to develop MMR into the country's leading data centre hub, a region that will eventually host 60% of India's data centres, Fadnavis had said in June. The CM aims to transform the MMR into a massive growth driver. A September 2024 NITI Aayog report projected the region to emerge as one of the world's leading metropolitan economies with a GDP approaching $1.5 trillion by 2047, the centennial year of India's independence. To achieve this target, the region needs to consistently attract investments worth $135 billion over seven years. The state expects digital infrastructure and data centres to power this growth. Addressing the media after Wednesday's Janata Darbar, Naik said, "According to PM Narendra Modi, we need data centers. But I am of the view that they should not be set up in residential areas. Data centres need huge amounts of electricity and water, and create air pollution. They have adverse effects on people's lives and should not be set up in residential areas." The senior BJP mInister added, "People in Thane opposing data centres met me today and expressed their concerns. I told them I would convey their views to chief minister. But along with raising the issue on a political and administrative level, it needs to be challenged in court. If protestors challenge data centers in residential areas in court, I think the courts will definitely consider the environmental issues and adverse effects on public life." Naik held the Janata Darbar in the Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium in Thane city, home turf of his arch rival, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Naik slammed the Shiv Sena-ruled Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) over TDR worth Rs.2,800 crore being allotted to a private company in lieu of reserve forest land acquired from it. He said the value of TDR could be Rs.4,000 crore, not Rs.2,800 crore. Naik said, "I will not name anyone but people should find out who is behind this. It is not good to do such things for personal gain."...