Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Congress has opposed the proposed Rs 1.04 lakh crore artificial intelligence data centre at Naraj, being developed in partnership with Adani, warning that it could worsen water scarcity, increase temperatures and burden the Bhubaneswar–Cuttack region.

Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan, Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das and former Union minister Srikant Jena demanded public disclosure of project documents, including the memorandum of understanding, agreements, clearance committee minutes, environmental impact details and proposed tax concessions.

The party said the project was approved at the 46th High-Level Clearance Authority meeting on September 23, among 27 proposals worth Rs 2.47 lakh crore. The proposed one-gigawatt facility would occupy around 250 acres.

Congress claimed the centre could consume nearly 2.4 crore units of electricity and more than 30 million litres of water daily. It warned that such demand could worsen Bhubaneswar’s water shortage, deplete groundwater and place additional pressure on the Mahanadi system.

The party also questioned the project’s employment potential, estimating that it might generate only around 1,000 jobs despite the substantial investment.

Congress demanded an independent environmental impact assessment, disclosure of incentives and consideration of coastal sites using seawater cooling and renewable energy. It warned of an agitation if the government failed to respond.