India's ambitious $80 billion coal power expansion is facing a critical challenge: water scarcity. The world's most populous nation, home to 17% of the global population but only 4% of its water resources, plans to significantly increase its coal-fired power capacity by 2031. However, this strategy is already showing signs of strain in drought-prone regions like Solapur, a district in western India [1][2][3].

In Solapur, located about 400 km inland from Mumbai, the impact of water-intensive coal power generation is becoming increasingly apparent. Residents report that water availability has drastically decreased since the establishment of a 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power plant in 2017. The plant, operated by state-controlled NTPC, competes with local residents and businesses for water from a shared reservoir [1][2][3].

"Just a decade ago, water flowed every other day," according to local government officials and residents. Now, during peak summer months, citizens may wait a week or more for water to flow from their taps [1][2][3].

This situation in Solapur exemplifies the broader challenge facing India as it pursues its coal power expansion. The country plans to invest nearly $80 billion in coal plants by 2031 to meet the growing energy demands of industries, including data center operations [1][2][3].

The vast majority of these new coal plants are set to be built in areas already experiencing high or extremely high water stress, according to an analysis of government data by Reuters. This raises concerns about the sustainability of India's energy strategy and its potential impact on water access for millions of citizens [1][2][3].

As India continues to balance its economic growth ambitions with environmental and resource constraints, the tension between energy production and water availability is likely to intensify. The situation calls for careful consideration of alternative energy sources and water management strategies to ensure sustainable development [1][2][3].