Responding to the question of Jana Sena MLA Lokam Naga Madhavi in the Assembly, Nara Lokesh said that after Google's announcement of investment in Visakhapatnam, now other IT companies are also showing interest in the city.
The state government minister said that data centers are essential for today's digital and AI based economy. These are also important for the country's data sovereignty, especially in the current geopolitical situation.
He said that when the proposed data center ecosystem reaches a capacity of 6.5 GW, around 3 TMC of water will be required annually based on the current technology. But he assured that with the introduction of new cooling technology, water consumption will further reduce.
Nara Lokesh made it clear that water for the data center will not be taken from the people of the city. For this, industrial quota water from Polavaram project will be used.
He said that the government is committed to meet the urban water needs of Visakhapatnam through gravity based supply in the next 18 months. A separate pipeline will be laid for the data center.
Making a comparison, the state government minister said that a 1 gigawatt thermal power plant uses about 10 times more water annually than a data centre. Then why are questions being raised regarding water only at the data center?
Nara Lokesh said that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has set a limit of 6.5 gigawatt for the data center and this target has now been achieved. The government will give priority to companies that show environmental responsibility. Data centers in Visakhapatnam are being built in Adavivaram-Mudasarlova, Tarluwada and Rambilli areas.
However, citizen groups are opposing this project. He says that this will increase pressure on resources like water and electricity and will affect the environment. They have opposed the project citing water shortage due to Super El Nino-like weather in the state.
CPI and CPI(M) are also opposing the data center project around Visakhapatnam. They allege that this will have a negative impact on the environment, drinking water sources and public health.