Google Data Centre Faces Legal Challenge

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has refused to stay the construction of Google's $15 billion data centre in Visakhapatnam, despite hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) that challenges the project's approvals. The court sought answers from the state government concerning environmental clearance, water, and electricity usage. It emphasized that environmental clearance should not be disregarded. The government assured the court that all proceedings are in accordance with prescribed laws. The PIL alleges violations in granting environmental clearance and questions the extensive water and electricity proposed for the data centre. It also highlights incentives worth approximately ₹22,000 crore offered for the project. The court is scheduled to resume hearing the case next week. This facility is expected to create nearly 200,000 jobs and significantly boost the state's economy. The government is also developing complementary sectors like renewable energy and battery storage to support the data centre ecosystem. However, the project has faced opposition from environmental activists.