Construction of Google’s planned $15 billion data centre campus in southern India is facing mounting opposition from environmental groups concerned about water use and the project’s proximity to a protected wildlife sanctuary, creating an early challenge for the U.S. technology giant’s biggest investment in the country.
The project, being developed in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in partnership with Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s group, has become the focus of protests and multiple court cases alleging authorities failed to adequately assess its environmental impact.
Andhra Pradesh, governed by an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has rejected the allegations, saying the project complies with regulations and will not affect local water supplies or wildlife.
Construction is well underway, with a hillside cleared and terraced as earthmoving equipment continued work.
The project has drawn increasing opposition from environmental activists, who argue the hyperscale data centre could worsen water shortages in Visakhapatnam, a city of about 2.5 million people that already experiences periodic water rationing. State government data shows the city receives about 410 million litres of water daily against demand of 480 million litres.
In recent weeks, activists and schoolchildren have staged demonstrations carrying banners reading “We cannot drink DATA” and painting handcuffs over Google’s logo, according to social media posts reviewed by Impact Newswire.
At a public meeting on Sunday, campaigners outlined plans for door-to-door awareness campaigns and beach protests.
“Development should not be at the cost of livelihood of the people,” said Raja Rama Mohan Roy, founder of environmental group Green Visakha.
Roy presented data showing the city’s existing water shortages and questioned the government’s commitment to guarantee water supplies for the project for the next 20 years.
“Who will be the sufferers? The people,” he said.
The legal challenges could become an early test for Google’s expansion in India as technology companies worldwide face growing scrutiny over the environmental impact of data centres, which require large amounts of electricity and water to cool servers.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court this week directed the state government to respond to a public interest lawsuit filed by activist group Jal Biradari, which alleges the project could strain nearby water resources. The court is scheduled to hear the case again on Aug. 24.
Three additional cases filed before India’s National Green Tribunal by the Human Rights Forum seek to halt construction, arguing the state approved the project without adequately assessing the environmental consequences of sourcing water from a rural drinking-water scheme.
The state government dismissed the allegations as “incorrect and misleading” but said it remained open to addressing legitimate concerns.
“Such protests are their democratic right. In case any of these claims are legitimate, government is committed to engage and provide factual clarifications and suitable redressal,” it said in a statement.
Google said the project would comply with Indian laws and environmental regulations.
The company said it would deploy “advanced air cooling to protect vital local water resources.”
The project is also drawing scrutiny because it is about 860 metres from the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to species including leopards and pangolins.
The state said the project complies with legal setback requirements from the sanctuary.
Google said it would introduce sound mitigation measures to minimise disruption.
“We are a quiet, unobtrusive neighbour,” the company said.
The Andhra Pradesh government also said no water intended for residential or rural drinking purposes would be diverted to the data centre and that nearby reservoirs would not be used.
The Google-Adani project is expected to create up to 188,000 jobs, according to the state government.
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Faustine Ngila is the AI Editor at Impact Newswire, based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is an award-winning journalist specializing in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies.
He previously worked as a global technology reporter at Quartz in New York and Digital Frontier in London, where he covered innovation, startups, and the global digital economy.
With years of experience reporting on cutting-edge technologies, Faustine focuses on AI developments, industry trends, and the impact of technology on society.
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