Odisha: Congress flags water crisis, threat to farmers ahead of PM Modi’s inauguration of RBI data centre

Congress in Odisha on Friday raised concern over the proposed RBI data centre in Khurda district, alleging that its daily requirement of around 2 crore litres of fresh water could deplete groundwater reserves, threaten agriculture and worsen farmers' plight.

The opposition party also questioned the employment benefits of the project ahead of its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 25.

Former finance minister Panchanan Kanungo said the facility would put an enormous burden on local water resources, with its requirements likely to be met from groundwater.

"We are totally opposed to the data centre because it will consume around 2 crore litres of fresh water every day, and this requirement will be met from the groundwater of Khurda district," Kanungo said at a press conference here, alongside party spokesperson Sonali Sahu.

He claimed that other states, including Andhra Pradesh, had refused to host an RBI data centre, while the Odisha government had agreed to provide land for the facility.

Kanungo questioned how many local people would get jobs at the proposed centre and alleged that diverting groundwater for its operations could affect agricultural activities and aggravate farmers' problems.

The Congress demanded that the government disclose the project's water requirements, its likely impact on local resources, the expected employment opportunities and safeguards to protect farmers.

"If the government claims that this project represents the future of Odisha, then where do the drinking water needs of the people, irrigation for farmers' farmlands, the natural flow of rivers, and livelihood opportunities for the youth fit in," Kanungo asked.

Citing available data, he claimed that cooling the machinery at a single data centre could require 20 million litres of fresh water daily. Estimating the water's value at Rs 10 per litre, he said the annual amount would work out to Rs 7,200 crore.

Kanungo alleged that local residents could face water shortages and farmers might be forced to abandon cultivation and migrate elsewhere in search of work.

The Congress also questioned what the BJP's "triple-engine" government had done to resolve the Mahanadi water dispute with Chhattisgarh and sought clarity on how industrialisation would generate employment for people in Odisha.