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Google-Adani Andhra data centre faces water and wildlife protests
Construction is advancing on Google’s planned $15 billion data centre hub in Visakhapatnam, even as environmental groups challenge its impact on water supplies and nearby wildlife. The Andhra Pradesh High Court will…
The Story in Brief
Construction is advancing on Google’s planned $15 billion data centre hub in Visakhapatnam, even as environmental groups challenge its impact on water supplies and nearby wildlife. The Andhra Pradesh High Court will hear a public interest litigation on August 24 after activist group Jal Biradari alleged the project could strain a nearby reservoir. Three more cases have been filed before India’s environmental court.
The state says the allegations are incorrect and that residential and rural water will not be used. Google says it will use advanced air cooling. Visakhapatnam receives 410 million litres of water daily against demand of 480 million, with rationing common among its 2.5 million residents. Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary lies 860 metres from the site.
The Indian Opinion
The loudest narratives are that every large technology project is automatically progress, or that every environmental objection is an attempt to stop development. Neither is supported by the facts so far. A city already short of 70 million litres a day deserves clear, independently checked plans, while Google’s air-cooling claim and the state’s water assurances need proof. The court hearings should establish whether those safeguards hold in practice.
Sources (2): deccanherald.com, telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
