Google’s ambitious $15 billion data centre project in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh—partnered with Gautam Adani’s conglomerate—has run into growing resistance from environmental activists and local communities. The hyperscale facility, aimed at expanding Google’s cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure across South Asia, faces severe scrutiny over its projected water consumption in a water-stressed city and its proximity to a protected wildlife sanctuary.
Core Flashpoints & Environmental Concerns
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Severe Water Strains: Visakhapatnam currently receives 410 million litres of water daily against a local demand of 480 million litres, leading to frequent municipal rationing for its 2.5 million residents. Activists fear that guaranteed long-term water allocations to the data centre hub will deplete local reservoirs.
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Proximity to Kambalakonda Sanctuary: The proposed site sits just 860 metres away from the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, home to endangered fauna including leopards and pangolins. Conservationists warn that heavy machinery, continuous noise from industrial cooling units, and land disruption will fragment fragile animal habitats.
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Growing Public Protests: Local citizen groups, including Green Visakha and Jal Biradari, have organized public demonstrations and awareness campaigns, raising banners with slogans such as “We cannot drink DATA.”
Key Stakeholder Positions
| Stakeholder | Official Stance & Actions Taken |
| States the project will strictly adhere to environmental laws and implement advanced air-cooling systems and sound-dampening measures to minimize water draw and operate as a “quiet, unobtrusive neighbour.” | |
| Andhra Pradesh Government | Rejects allegations of fast-tracking without environmental risk assessments; guarantees that no rural or municipal drinking water sources will be diverted for server cooling operations. |
| Judiciary & Regulators | The Andhra Pradesh High Court has scheduled a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing for August 24, 2026, while the National Green Tribunal faces multiple petitions filed by the Human Rights Forum. |
Broader Context
This dispute underscores the growing global friction between rapid AI infrastructure expansion and local ecological sustainability. With tech giants racing to build power- and water-intensive data hubs, developing regions like India are emerging as critical test beds for balancing massive technological investments with environmental safeguards.
