Now Reading: Andhra data centre policy draws flak over power licences
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Andhra data centre policy draws flak over power licences
The Andhra Pradesh government's proposed policy to grant Deemed Distribution Licences (DDLs) to data centres has come under legal scrutiny. Frontline reports that an RTI response obtained by the Human Rights Forum…
The Andhra Pradesh government's proposed policy to grant Deemed Distribution Licences (DDLs) to data centres has come under legal scrutiny. Frontline reports that an RTI response obtained by the Human Rights Forum in August revealed the energy department had concluded a DDL 'cannot be granted' to Adani Infra for the Google-Adani project. Legal experts cited by Frontline argue that the Electricity Act requires a licensee to supply electricity to consumers, not for self-consumption, making the policy legally infirm.
Meanwhile, M9 News reports that opposition YSR Congress has raised concerns about the Google data centre in Visakhapatnam, particularly over water and power use. IT Minister Nara Lokesh countered in the Assembly, stating that drinking water would not be used and that dedicated power grids would be established. He also cited new cooling technologies to reduce water consumption. The state government is pushing Amaravati and Visakhapatnam as AI hubs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Frontline's investigative report focuses on the legal challenges to the DDL policy, foregrounding regulatory conflict and opposition from rights groups, while M9 News presents the government's rebuttal to political criticism, framing it as misinformation. Frontline omits the government's defence of the policy as innovative, and M9 News omits the legal infirmities raised by experts. A measured reading shows that while the government has addressed resource concerns publicly, the unresolved legal status of the DDL framework creates uncertainty for the project's implementation. Watch for the APERC's decision on the DDL application.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 pro-government, 1 government-critical
Sources (2): frontline.thehindu.com (government critical), m9.news (pro government)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
