Chennai, September 22, 2026: India’s growing data-centre ecosystem can drive economic growth, create jobs and support the country’s clean-energy transition, experts said at a webinar organised by the Policy Consensus Centre (PCC). The discussion highlighted the need for responsible planning, efficient use of water and energy, and sustainable infrastructure as data-centre capacity expands across India. Mr. Arindam Goswami, Co-founder & Partner, Policy Consensus Centre, said responsible growth should combine technological progress with resource efficiency, investment and environmental stewardship.
The webinar also discussed the potential of data centres to generate employment across engineering, technology, construction, power, cooling and connectivity sectors. Dr. Pankaj Sharma, Energy Economist, said data centres should be viewed as part of India’s broader infrastructure and economic development opportunity. Mr. Vishal Tripathi, Consultant, Council on Energy, Environment & Water, highlighted the potential for data centres to support demand-response services and renewable-energy integration, while calling for suitable regulatory frameworks and green-energy mechanisms.
Community concerns around water, noise and environmental impact were also discussed. Dr. Sonia Taskande, a Chandivali resident living close to a data centre, said she had not experienced significant disruption in her day-to-day life or any particular issue with water availability. Dr. Ajay Ojha, Co-founder and Promoter, Techknowgreen Solutions, stressed the importance of sustainability incentives and greater disclosure, while Mr. Sudipto Bannerjee, Deputy Director – Public Policy, NASSCOM, called for integrated resource maps to support transparent and evidence-based data-centre planning.