Google - Adani Massive India Data Centre Project Faces Fury Over Forest, Water and Wildlife Concerns

VISAKHAPATNAM, India: Construction of Google’s planned $15 billion data centre hub in Andhra Pradesh is progressing rapidly, but the project is facing growing opposition from environmental activists over concerns about water consumption, wildlife impact and ecological risks.

The site near Visakhapatnam has already been cleared and transformed into terraced levels, with construction work underway. The project, backed by the Andhra Pradesh government and supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ally, has been described as a major investment expected to boost technology infrastructure and create up to 188,000 jobs.

However, environmental groups have raised concerns over the impact of the facility on local water supplies and the nearby Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to species including leopards and pangolins. Activists have also filed legal challenges seeking a review of the project’s environmental impact.

Protesters in Visakhapatnam have held demonstrations carrying banners reading “We cannot drink DATA” and criticizing the use of water for cooling large-scale data centres. Activists argue that the city already faces water shortages, with officials stating that daily water availability is below the estimated requirement for its population of around 2.5 million.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has asked the state government to respond to allegations that the project could put additional pressure on water resources. The case will be heard again on August 24.

The state government rejected claims that the project was approved without proper consideration of environmental concerns, saying it is open to addressing legitimate issues. Google said the data centre will comply with all applicable laws and use advanced air-cooling technology to reduce pressure on local water resources.

The project, developed in partnership with Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s group, also faces concerns over construction noise and its proximity to the wildlife sanctuary. Google said it would implement sound-reduction measures to minimize disturbance.

Environmental groups have filed additional cases before India’s environmental court, arguing that authorities did not fully assess the impact of water usage and ecological changes before approving the project.