Now Reading: Andaman withdraws green AI data centre contract for Great Nicobar
-
01
Andaman withdraws green AI data centre contract for Great Nicobar
The Andaman and Nicobar administration has withdrawn its expression of interest for a private sector-led green artificial intelligence or data centre vertical in Great Nicobar or Little Andaman, days after issuing it.…
The Andaman and Nicobar administration has withdrawn its expression of interest for a private sector-led green artificial intelligence or data centre vertical in Great Nicobar or Little Andaman, days after issuing it. A notice on August 14 said the EOI dated August 10 stands withdrawn with immediate effect due to administrative reasons, amid concerns over the environmental impact of the wider Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project.
The earlier EOI had identified possible locations including Campbell Bay Sea and Anderson Bay Sea in Great Nicobar, and Hutbay Sea in Little Andaman. The administration said the exercise was purely for market sounding and feasibility evaluation. The wider Great Nicobar project spans 166 sq km and includes a transhipment port, an integrated township, an airport, and a 450-MVA power plant.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The withdrawal follows months of opposition from environmental groups and local tribal communities over the Great Nicobar project's impact on rainforests and indigenous rights. The project, cleared by the cabinet in 2022, has faced legal challenges in the Supreme Court. The AI data centre EOI was part of broader plans to position the islands as a digital hub, but the pullback suggests the administration is recalibrating after pushback. The next trigger is a Supreme Court hearing on pending petitions, expected in the winter session. Watch for whether the Centre files a fresh, narrower EOI or abandons the data centre plan entirely.
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
