INDIA DATA CENTRE WATER RESOURCES
Mekedatu row: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay urges PM Modi to halt Karnataka dam proposal without state consent
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has urged Prime Minister Modi not to approve Karnataka's Mekedatu dam project. He cited concerns regarding the impact on water availability in the Cauvery basin. Vijay requested that Karnataka be advised against continuing the project without the consent of all basin states.
Environmental groups embrace AI, even as they warn of data center impacts
Environmental organisations are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance conservation efforts and analyze ecological data. Many express concerns about the environmental impact caused by data centers that support AI technologies. The energy and water consumption of these centers is projected to double by 2030, raising emissions concerns.
El Nino trigger: Rabi contingency plan drawn up for 225 districts amid rainfall deficit
The govt has developed a rabi contingency plan in response to the southwest monsoon's rainfall deficit. With concerns over soil moisture and reservoir levels, the plan targets 225 districts facing crop planning challenges. Recent rains have improved some reservoir levels, prompting a reassessment of the original strategies. Additionally, rising food prices and rice stocks have led to new regulatory measures across several states.
Equinix seeking land for India data centres: CEO
The world’s largest data centre operator by footprint, valued at nearly $100 billion, has invested $365 million in India and sees significant opportunities in AI inference, the process of using trained models to generate responses and run business applications. Such workloads require proximity to enterprise data, users and networks.
Activists breach Microsoft data centre construction site as protests spread in Europe
Activist groups have announced actions in 16 countries on Friday and Saturday, according to the "Stop Dirty Data Centres" coalition, which is rallying environmental groups and digital rights campaigns behind calls to pause large-scale construction.
A billionaire couple donated $50 million to UC Davis for agricultural research; in 2026, a 34,000-square-foot center opened in California
At the forefront of agri-tech innovation, the Resnick Center at the University of California, Davis, drives agricultural advancement with a strong focus on sustainability and research. Fueled by generous donations, it strives to elevate farming practices and enhance crop resilience. Current projects aim at transforming agricultural waste into valuable resources, thereby reducing ecological footprints.
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Big tech, green groups in talks over data center guardrails
The "Responsible Data Center Collaborative" counts Google, Meta, Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon, Nvidia and Anthropic among its members, alongside environmental stalwarts the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Sierra Club.
India ready to help Nepal rebuild flood-hit infra, deepen energy ties
India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri communicated support for Nepal's infrastructure rebuilding after the recent floods. During meetings in Kathmandu, Nepal's PM Balen Shah thanked India for its disaster response assistance. Discussions also focused on expanding energy cooperation, with Nepal seeking new investments in various sectors. Several India-funded projects are set to be inaugurated during Shah's upcoming visit to India. This visit marks Shah's first bilateral overseas engagement as Prime Minister.
US midterm results threaten data center boom as AI backlash grows
US midterm election results have raised fresh concerns over the future of America's data centre boom, with Democratic victories in Texas and Georgia strengthening opposition to new projects. Investors fear tighter regulations, construction moratoriums and reduced tax incentives could disrupt AI infrastructure spending, putting nearly 45% of planned US capacity at risk.
Google unveils $15 billion data centre investment in Malaysia
Google announced plans on Wednesday to invest $15 billion in Malaysia over the next two years to build data centres and other infrastructure as demand booms for artificial intelligence services. It said the $15 billion investment will be made "over the next two years (2027 to 2028)", expanding on a $2 billion investment announced in 2024.
Australia data centre inquiry finds inadequate checks, stops short of moratorium
An inquiry into data centres by Australia's most populous state found approvals failed to consider the cumulative effect on resources and infrastructure but stopped short of calling for a moratorium, prompting a blistering rebuke from its chair.
Democratic victories threaten to slow US data-centre expansion, ease bond yields: ICICI Bank report
The US midterm election results have put 141 GW of planned data-centre capacity at risk of tighter policy restrictions, potentially slowing AI infrastructure investments, while supporting US Treasury bonds, according to an ICICI Bank report.
Midterm results may slow US visa curbs, but no quick relief likely for IT
The opposition party’s takeover of both chambers of US Congress is expected to bring greater scrutiny of the administration’s policy decisions, potentially slowing further restrictions, industry experts told ET. However, any improvement in sentiment is unlikely to translate quickly into higher hiring or technology spending.
Entry norms for GPU bidders eased, but price pain remains
Bidders will not be required to submit a financial bid or commit to service level terms at the first stage, which will be for technical qualification. This is a significant change from the previous IndiaAI process. The minimum technical qualifying score has been reduced to 60 out of 100, compared with 75 under the IndiaAI framework.
After Japan and Korea, now Singapore: UP's big plan to build a foreign-style city near Noida airport; check location, sectors and investment plans
Uttar Pradesh is planning to develop a dedicated 'Singapore City' in Sector 7 near Noida International Airport at Jewar to attract foreign investment and boost regional growth. Following talks between Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and a Singapore business delegation, the proposed project will focus on logistics, semiconductors, data centres, AI, green energy and modern urban infrastructure.
Forget solar and wind: India bets on heat buried deep underground for round-the-clock clean electricity; here's the big plan
India is stepping up efforts to tap its estimated 10.6 GW geothermal energy potential, with its first two geothermal wells commissioned in Ladakh's Puga Valley in July 2026. The government is also supporting pilot projects across Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh and Telangana, while its 2025 National Geothermal Energy Policy aims to promote research, technology development and private investment in the sector.
India elected as President of International Solar Alliance for third straight term: Pralhad Joshi
Addressing media at the summit, Joshi said, "At the ninth session of the ISA, we reaffirm a fundamental belief: progress becomes truly meaningful when its benefits are shared". He congratulated France on the occasion of being reelected co-President of the ISA.
India's data centre capacity set for 5x surge by 2030
By March 2030, India’s data centre capacity is projected to soar to 7.5 gigawatts, fueled by escalating demand from global hyperscalers and the emergence of generative artificial intelligence. However, challenges such as power infrastructure and project execution timing loom large. To mitigate these risks, pre-commitments and long-term contracts are essential, alongside the industry's flexibility to adapt to changing computing needs, which will dictate its future profitability.
India wants more factories, fabs and data centres. Where will the water come from?
India's ambition to become a developed nation by 2047 is constrained by growing water resource challenges. Industries across sectors, including thermal power and semiconductor manufacturing, face water scarcity issues that could hinder growth. Many regions are already experiencing severe water stress, impacting economic development plans drastically. Adopting recycling and reuse technologies will be crucial for managing water in industries effectively.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman questions why people keep so much RAM in their computers; but what happens when the internet goes down?
Altman questioned the efficiency of people keeping large amounts of DRAM in personal computers when that memory is being used only around 5% of the time. He argued that from a global resource-allocation perspective, memory could be used more efficiently in cloud data centres, where multiple users can access shared computing resources.
NTT Data to nearly triple Mangaluru workforce to over 2,500 by 2027
The company entered Mangaluru through its acquisition of local cloud engineering company Niveus Solutions, and is looking to use the city as a base for developing specialised technology capabilities. Its focus areas include healthcare and life sciences, automotive, manufacturing, high technology, AI and data.
STT Global’s India biz on the block; micro occasions power qcomm
KKR, Singtel, and the Tatas are preparing to sell STT GDC India, a major data centre platform. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Elon Musk vs Sam Altman: After OpenAI CEO questions people's RAM usage at home, Musk defends ordinary users with a meme
Elon Musk has taken a dig at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman after the latter questioned why people keep large amounts of RAM in their personal computers when the limited memory supply could be used more efficiently by AI data centres. Sharing a meme on X, Musk defended ordinary consumers. The exchange comes amid a global memory shortage that is driving up prices of PCs, smartphones and other electronic devices.
KKR, Singtel and Tata Communications put data centre company STT GDC India up for sale at over $5.5 billion
In a significant move, KKR, Singtel, and Tata Communications are gearing up to offload STT Global Data Centres India, anticipating a valuation that could surpass $5.5 billion. This initiative underscores their intent to bolster capital and refine strategic objectives. With 34 data centres in operation, STT GDC India stands as a leading co-location service provider, well-poised to capitalize on the escalating appetite for data infrastructure amidst evolving tech trends.
Australian outback data centre pulls timeline after regulator stalls
Startup Energy North, which says it has finance lined up for a sprawling gas and solar-powered data centre on a cattle ranch in the country's remote north, 683 km (424 miles) from the nearest city, had given a "first power" date of June 28, 2028, in regulatory filings four months ago.
See data centres less as energy-sucking private warehouses, and more as quasi-public utilities
We need data centres. They run far more than ChatGPT. Search, banking, streaming, social networks, cloud software, government services, hospitals and almost every company's digital operations depend on them. AI simply raises the requirement dramatically. Google says its Vizag hub will provide new subsea connectivity for India. IEA says electricity use by AI-focused data centres jumped 50% in 2025. A country without serious compute infrastructure risks becoming a consumer, rather than a producer, of the AI revolution.
Google went to Finland for its AI expansion. Now a cleared forest and a police probe threaten to overshadow its $15 billion investment
Google's planned expansion in Finland is facing scrutiny due to alleged environmental violations at a data centre site. Authorities are investigating whether the company breached local laws related to water management. The controversy has drawn public criticism and highlighted the need for responsible corporate practices. As investment in artificial intelligence increases, balancing economic growth and environmental protection remains challenging.
Pakistan: United Nations report exposes flaws in Sindh's water management
Sindh’s water management system is struggling with outdated rules, weak data and growing gaps between official allocations and actual water use, according to an FAO study cited by Dawn. The report called for a comprehensive review of land and water resources, better monitoring of irrigation and urban supply systems, and regular water accounts covering agriculture, cities, industry and environmental needs.
TPG pursues $5 billion acquisition of British data centre group Ark: FT
Global alternative asset manager TPG is in talks to buy British data centre group Ark from Elliott Investment Management at a valuation of about $5 billion, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.
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