The proposed data centre of tech behemoth Google in Andhra Pradesh, being raised at an investment of USD 15 billion, is facing environmental concerns, including water scarcity and protection of wild life, the media reported on Thursday.
Initial ground work to build Google’s planned Indian data centre hub is in full swing, but mounting opposition from environmentalists and general public may create hurdles for the US technology giant’s ambitious project.
Andhra’s tech-savvy Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who hailed the project as historic and transformational, has denied allegations that it was being fast-tracked without weighing risks to water supplies and wildlife.
But the mounting opposition, after the people witnessed a hillside above the site stripped to red earth and terraced into steps, could become an early test for Google’s biggest-ever India investment. The company is facing legal challenges over its likely impact on water supplies and proximity to a wildlife sanctuary that is home to leopards and pangolins.
In recent weeks, environmentalists, social activists, and children have marched in Visakhapatnam City, the coastal state’s primary financial and major economic hub, holding banners declaring “We cannot drink DATA” and painting handcuffs on the Google logo.
The city receives 410 million litres of water a day from its reservoirs and rivers, against a requirement of 480 million. Rationing of water supplies is common in Visakhapatnam with a population of 2.5 million people.
Rapid data centre buildouts are facing pushback around the world for using huge quantities of electricity and also water to cool servers. The potential impact is even more pronounced in a developing nation like India. Even in the US, opponents held 142 protests across 42 states in July 2026 raising similar concerns.
Redressal
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday asked the government to defend against allegations levelled by activist group Jal Biradari (Water Community), which says the project will strain water availability by putting stress on a nearby reservoir. The court will next hear the public interest litigation on August 24.
The state officials called activists’ concerns about the project incorrect and misleading, but added they are open to feedback.
“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,” they said.
Google said its project will be developed in line with applicable laws and it will implement “advanced air cooling to protect vital local water resources.”
The US tech giant has partnered with India’s Adani’s Group which will build the marquee project, expected to create up to 188,000 jobs.
Wildlife and pollution
The public interest litigation also raised concerns that heavy construction and noise could impact the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, located just 860 metres away.
About the site’s proximity to the sanctuary, the state officials said it was farther away than the law requires. Google added it will be implementing sound-dampening measures to ensure “we are a quiet, unobtrusive neighbour.”
The project also faces three more cases filed at India’s environmental court by the Human Rights Forum, demanding a halt. They argue the state cleared the project without properly assessing the impact of drawing supply from a rural drinking-water scheme.
The government said that no water for rural or residential purposes will be used for the upcoming data centres, and the water reservoir nearby will also not be used. But activists said the government had promised “guaranteed” water supplies for 20 years to the Google project while the city already faces shortages.