Google’s $15 Billion AI Data Center Faces Land and Environmental Opposition in India

Summary

Google is building a $15 billion AI data-center project in Andhra Pradesh, India, in partnership with the Adani Group. The development is described publicly as a 1GW facility, but state environmental clearances authorize a total capacity of 2.51GW across three sites near the state capital, Visakhapatnam. That capacity would equal the output of two large nuclear reactors and, over a year, more than 30% of Andhra Pradesh’s current electricity consumption. The project is intended to support the state’s ambition to become a technology hub, while the government says AI infrastructure is important to India’s digital competitiveness. Local residents and activists, however, are concerned about land loss, forest clearing, heat, electricity demand, water supplies and the adequacy of environmental oversight. More than 100 acres of forest are reportedly being cleared, and one site is near reserve forest, a drinking-water reservoir and a wildlife sanctuary. Tarluvada residents say government officials initially promised jobs, rising property values and generous compensation, but some families later lost access to land they had farmed or received through earlier government allocation. One farmer said he received $40,000 but was still waiting for promised replacement land and a job. The state says no land was forcibly taken and that eligible owners received generous compensation; Adani says the required legal approvals were obtained. Environmental clearances were issued in nine days without public consultation, prompting three petitions before India’s National Green Tribunal and a separate case in the Andhra Pradesh high court. Petitioners argue that the assessment of ecological and water risks was inadequate. Google says the project will use air cooling, generate thousands of jobs, help create new clean energy and have no expected impact on the local community. The article reports that state incentives, including tax breaks, discounted land and access to electricity and water, are estimated at 220 billion rupees over 20 years.