Google's $15 Billion Andhra Pradesh Data Centre Project Faces Water, Wildlife Concerns Amid Legal Challenges

New Delhi, August 6, 2026: Construction of Google's planned $15 billion data centre hub in Andhra Pradesh is progressing rapidly, but growing opposition from environmental groups over water supplies and wildlife is creating hurdles for the US technology giant's biggest-ever investment in India.

At the construction site, a hillside has been stripped to red earth and terraced into steps as work progresses. The Andhra Pradesh government, led by an ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has rejected allegations that the project was fast-tracked without adequately considering potential risks to water resources and wildlife.

The project faces several legal challenges over concerns about water availability and its proximity to a wildlife sanctuary that is home to leopards and pangolins, Reuters reported.

Activists Raise Water Concerns

In recent weeks, activists and children have marched in Visakhapatnam carrying banners reading "We cannot drink DATA" and painting handcuffs on the Google logo, according to social media posts.

At a public gathering on Sunday, activists discussed plans for door-to-door awareness campaigns and beach protests.

"Development should not be at the cost of the livelihood of the people," Green Visakha founder Raja Rama Mohan Roy said at the gathering, where he presented data on the city's strained water supply.

According to the government, Visakhapatnam receives 410 million litres of water a day from reservoirs and rivers against a requirement of 480 million litres. Water rationing is common in the city, which has a population of 2.5 million.

Data centre projects have faced opposition globally because of the large quantities of water required to cool servers and their electricity consumption. In the US, opponents held 142 protests across 42 states in July over similar concerns.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday asked the state government to respond to allegations by activist group Jal Biradari, or Water Community, which claims the project will put additional pressure on water availability by straining a nearby reservoir. The Court will next hear the public interest litigation on August 24.

The state government called the activists' concerns incorrect and misleading but said it remained open to feedback.

"Such protests are their democratic right. In case any of these claims are legitimate, the government is committed to engaging and providing factual clarifications and suitable redressal," it said.

Google said the project would be developed in accordance with applicable laws and would use "advanced air cooling to protect vital local water resources".

Project Progress Continues

Construction was well underway when Reuters visited the site on Monday, with earthmovers working on the exposed ground.

Google has partnered with Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's group, which will build the project. It is expected to create up to 188,000 jobs. Adani did not respond to queries.

Green Visakha has also questioned the government's promise of "guaranteed" water supplies to the project for 20 years when Visakhapatnam already faces shortages.

The Andhra Pradesh government, however, said water intended for rural or residential purposes would not be used for the data centres. It also said the nearby reservoir would not supply water to the project.

"Who will be the sufferers? The people," said Roy.

Wildlife Concerns Examined

The public interest litigation before the Andhra Pradesh High Court also raises concerns about the potential effects of heavy construction and noise on Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 860 metres from the project site.

Responding to concerns over the site's proximity to the sanctuary, the state government said the distance exceeded legal requirements.

Google said it would implement sound-dampening measures to ensure “we are a quiet, unobtrusive neighbour.”

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The project also faces three cases filed by the Human Rights Forum before India's environmental court seeking a halt to the development. The group argues that the state cleared the project without properly assessing the effects of drawing water from a rural drinking-water scheme, according to court documents.

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