Google data center project in Andhra Pradesh faces environmental protests

Google is proceeding with a $15 billion AI data center project in Andhra Pradesh, India, amid mounting environmental and resource concerns. Activists in Visakhapatnam have organized protests, citing risks to local water supplies and the proximity of the site to a wildlife sanctuary inhabited by leopards and pangolins.

Local non-profit Green Visakha has highlighted that Visakhapatnam already faces water stress, with a daily requirement of 480 million liters against a supply of 410 million liters. Critics argue that the massive water needs for cooling servers could exacerbate existing shortages.

In response, Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh addressed the Assembly to counter claims of resource diversion. Lokesh stated that drinking water intended for human consumption will not be supplied to the facility. Instead, the government plans to establish separate pipeline systems to use only excess water and dedicated power grids to ensure the project does not impact the local electricity supply for residents.