Google’s India Data Centre Faces Environmental Opposition

Google’s planned $15 billion data centre project in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, is facing growing environmental opposition over concerns about water availability and its proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. Activists argue that the massive project could strain the city’s already limited water resources and negatively impact local wildlife, despite ongoing construction at the site.

Environmental groups have organised protests and filed multiple legal challenges, claiming the project was approved without fully assessing its environmental impact. The Andhra Pradesh High Court is set to hear one of the petitions on August 24. Protesters say the city already experiences regular water shortages, raising concerns over long-term water commitments for the data centre.

The Andhra Pradesh government has rejected the allegations, stating that no residential or rural water supplies will be diverted for the project and that it complies with legal requirements regarding the nearby wildlife sanctuary. Google also said the facility will follow all Indian regulations, use advanced air-cooling technology to minimise water consumption, and implement sound-dampening measures to reduce environmental impact.

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