Home / Environment / Green Visakha Demands Halt on AI Data Centers
Green Visakha Demands Halt on AI Data Centers
22 Oct
Summary
- Environmental NGO urges halt on AI data centers until impacts are assessed.
- Concerns raised over water, electricity, and public health impacts.
- Candidates asked to prioritize environmental protection in agendas.
An environmental NGO in Visakhapatnam, Green Visakha, is calling for candidates in the upcoming Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation elections to commit to environmental protection and public health. The organization has specifically urged the state government to pause any further development of proposed artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.
This pause is requested until a thorough, independent assessment of the resource requirements, including water and electricity demand, and the potential environmental and public health impacts of these AI data centers can be completed and made public. Green Visakha highlighted existing environmental concerns such as industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and construction dust in areas like Gajuwaka, Gangavaram, and Parawada.
Furthermore, the NGO is advocating for stronger pollution monitoring, enforcement of environmental standards, and public disclosure of air quality data. They also emphasized the need to protect local natural resources, including the Kambalakonda forest and Mudasarlova reservoir, prevent untreated industrial wastewater discharge, and ensure the conservation of groundwater recharge zones and urban green spaces. Political parties are urged to publish clear environmental commitments with measurable targets and timelines.
