Massive Protests Erupt Against Google's Data Centre Project in India

The construction of a Google data centre in India is facing a wave of opposition. Environmentalists are opposing the project by highlighting the threat to the local water supply and its proximity to a wildlife sanctuary that is home to leopards and pangolins.

A public backlash has emerged against the US$15 billion project. For several weeks, activists and children have taken to the streets of Visakhapatnam, carrying banners reading ‘We can’t drink DATA’ and featuring images of handcuffs on the Google logo.

‘Development should not come at the cost of people’s livelihoods,’ said Raja Rama, founder of the non-profit Green Visakha.

According to the local government, the city receives 410 million litres of water per day from its reservoirs and rivers, which is less than the total community requirement of 480 million litres per day. The city’s 2.5 million residents already face water rationing, and the problem is predicted to worsen as the data centre consumes large amounts of water for server cooling, in addition to its very high electricity usage.

The activist group Jal Biradari (Water Community) has also alleged that the data centre project will strain the water availability of a nearby reservoir. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has asked the government to provide an official response to these allegations.

The local government has dismissed the public’s concerns as misleading, while assuring that it remains open to feedback. ‘Such protests are their democratic right. If there are valid claims, the government is committed to engaging and providing factual clarifications and appropriate solutions,’ a government representative said.

Google has asserted that its project will be developed in accordance with applicable laws. The tech giant also promised to implement advanced cooling systems to protect the region’s water resources.

The government also denied claims that the data centre site is too close to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, insisting the distance exceeds the minimum required limit, although a court petition states the distance is only 860 metres. Meanwhile, Google has pledged to install noise-dampening technology to ensure the surrounding environment remains quiet and undisturbed.