Now Reading: Andhra HC allows AI data centre project to proceed
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Andhra HC allows AI data centre project to proceed
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has allowed Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited (VHDCPL) to continue development of its Hyperscale AI Data Centre project at Adavivaram and Mudasaralova villages in Visakhapatnam rural mandal, subject to the final court order. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Challa Gunaranjan passed the interim order on Tuesday, 6 October.
The court directed VHDCPL to strictly adhere to all statutory procedures and environmental regulations, cautioning that any lapse in compliance would invite intervention. The bench also ruled that the company cannot claim any rights based on investments made if the final judgment goes against it. The court directed the Centre, the state government and VHDCPL to file counter-affidavits and adjourned the matter.
The PIL was filed by environmentalist Bolisetty Satyanarayana, who challenged the allotment of 160 acres of temple land for the project, alleging the facility is being built 1 km from a wildlife sanctuary and requires central environmental clearance. The state government argued that the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority granted clearance on 10 June and that the project falls under Category B, which does not need central clearance.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both outlets report the same interim order but frame it differently: Deccan Chronicle leads with the court allowing VHDCPL to continue, while New Indian Express leads with the caveat that construction is at the developer's own risk. New Indian Express also reports the environmentalist's allegation that the project is 1 km from a wildlife sanctuary and the dispute over whether it requires central clearance, while Deccan Chronicle omits those details. The balanced reading is that the court permitted work to proceed but explicitly warned the developer that it cannot later claim equity from its investment, and that the environmental compliance dispute remains unresolved pending further affidavits and the next hearing.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): deccanchronicle.com (neutral report), newindianexpress.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
