Google’s $15bn Vizag Data Hub Faces Water Shortages and Wildlife Court Battles

Google’s $15 billion AI data centre hub in Visakhapatnam is facing mounting protests and legal challenges over water scarcity and environmental risks, with activists warning that the project could worsen the city’s already strained supply of 410 million litres per day against a demand of 480 million litres. Courts are now reviewing petitions about its impact on reservoirs and the nearby Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.

Data centres consume huge water volumes for server cooling, raising fears of worsening water shortages.

As of August 6–7, 2026, the Vizag AI data centre project is under full construction but faces intensifying protests, legal scrutiny, and environmental concerns, with Andhra Pradesh High Court set to hear key cases on August 24.

Spread across three sites — Taluvada (266.6 acres), Adivivaram (160 acres), Rambilli-Achyutapuram (174.8 acres), the data centre site is 860m from Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, home to leopards and pangolins.

Water Challenges

• Current supply vs demand: Vizag receives 410 million litres/day, but needs 480 million litres/day, leading to routine rationing for 2.5 million residents.
• Cooling needs: Hyperscale data centres consume vast amounts of water to cool servers, raising fears of worsening shortages.
• Activist concerns: Groups like Jal Biradari argue the project will strain nearby reservoirs, while slogans such as “We cannot drink DATA” have become rallying cries.

Environmental & Wildlife Risks

• Proximity to sanctuary: The site is just 860 metres from Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, home to leopards and pangolins.
• Noise & construction impact: Heavy machinery and terracing of hillsides could disrupt wildlife habitats.
• Legal cases: Multiple petitions filed in Andhra Pradesh High Court and India’s environmental court demand stricter review or halts.

Legal & Political Context

• Government stance: Andhra Pradesh, led by an ally of PM Modi, insists the project complies with regulations and denies fast-tracking allegations.
• Court hearings: The High Court will next hear public interest litigation on August 24, 2026.
• Global parallels: Similar protests against data centres have erupted worldwide, including 142 protests across 42 U.S. states in July 2026.

Comparison of Key Concerns

Issue	Details	Impact
Water scarcity	410 MLD supply vs 480 MLD demand	Risk of worsening rationing
Wildlife sanctuary	860m from Kambalakonda	Habitat disruption for leopards, pangolins
Legal challenges	Cases in High Court & environmental court	Possible delays, stricter oversight
Public protests	“We cannot drink DATA” marches	Growing local resistance

🚨 Risks & Outlook

• Water security: Without desalination or alternative cooling, Vizag’s residents may face deeper rationing.
• Wildlife impact: Sanctuary proximity raises long-term ecological risks.
• Execution risk: Legal delays could push back Google’s planned September 2028 operations.

In July 2026, 142 protests across 42 U.S. states targeted data centres over water and energy use. Google calls Vizag its largest AI hub outside the U.S., anchoring subsea cable gateways for India’s digital sovereignty. Despite hurdles, Google positions Vizag as a global AI hub, critical for India’s digital sovereignty.