DNA EXCLUSIVE: Mumbai to be data storage hub as state govt plans green agenda

The Maharashtra government plans to position Mumbai as a global data storage hub. With demand for data storage burgeoning in the region, Mumbai fits the bill considering its power infrastructure and undersea cable landing. And the state government wants to capitalise on this to promote integrated data centre parks.

In the proposed data centre parks, a developer can build infrastructure required for Tier-4 centres, and the storage space can be used by various other companies as well. These companies can even be eligible for fiscal incentives by way of refund of state GST for a maximum period of 10 years.

"In the policy period, only five such integrated data centre parks of Tier-4 category, with a maximum investment of Rs 1,500 crore by the developer company, will be eligible for the incentives. The government will soon modify the information technology/IT Enable Services Policy, 2015," a state industries department officer said.

Through this, the government hopes to attract investment worth Rs 10 lakh crore and create 60 lakh jobs across sectors like electric vehicles, aerospace, defence manufacturing, industry 4.0, textile machinery manufacturing, agro and food processing, electronic systems design, logistics and warehousing, etc.

The government also plans to promote green energy/biofuel vehicles. The government will permit cultivation of non-edible oilseeds suitable for bio-fuel production in tribal and degraded forest areas and allow its harvesting. Green energy and bio-fuel production, defined as 'thrust sectors', will be entitled for additional incentives. Moreover, the government will also encourage setting up of forest, mineral-based and agro industries. Funds from tribal sub-plans will be utilised since these industries will be located in tribal areas. And if the entrepreneurs are non-tribals, eligibility conditions for availing incentives will be 90 per cent employment to tribal persons during the incentive period.

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The data centre parks can hold infrastructure required for Tier-4 centres, while storage space can be used by other companies as well. These companies can even be eligible for GST rebates.