India’s AI Boom Threatens a Coastal City’s Water and Power

India is racing to build massive data centers to catch up in artificial intelligence. But the megaprojects, planned near a coastal city, could drain local energy and water supplies—without creating lasting jobs. Officials are pushing the data centers as a way to boost India’s lagging tech sector. Critics, however, warn that each facility consumes enormous amounts of electricity and water for cooling. They argue the projects will strain local resources while offering few long-term employment opportunities. The tension highlights a growing global dilemma: how to pursue AI progress without sacrificing environmental and community needs. For now, the coastal city faces a difficult trade-off between technological ambition and sustainability.