But what’s in it for locals? Not much, says Sharmila Chavaly, ex-IAS officer. States are in a race to lure tech giants like Google and Adani, even if it means risking wildlife reserves or local water access. One project in Vizag faces protests for skipping environment checks. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu quietly says ‘no thanks’; choosing sustainability over hype. The real question: when we give away decades of tax revenue, shouldn’t we demand local jobs, clean tech, or community benefits in return? Right now, the answer is… nobody’s asking.