$80bn coal projects running short of water

The world's most populous country plans to spend nearly $80 billion on water-hungry coal plants by 2031 to power growing industries like data center operations

- REUTERS

April marks the start of the cruelest months for India. As temperatures soar, water availability dwindles in multiple places across nation. In peak summer, the wait for taps to flow can stretch to a week or more.

India has 17% of the planet's population, but access to only 4% of its water resources. The world's most populous country plans to spend nearly $80 billion on water-hungry coal plants by 2031 to power growing industries like data center operations.

The vast majority of these new projects are planned for India's driest areas, according to a power ministry document, which is not public and was created for officials to track progress.

As per reports, several analysts, coporates and layman have said the thermal expansion likely portended future conflict between industry and residents over limited water resources.

Thirty-seven of the 44 new projects named in the undated power ministry shortlist of future operations are located in areas that the government classifies as either suffering from water scarcity or stress. NTPC, which says it draws 98.5% of its water from water-stressed areas, is involved in nine of them.