Public Outcry in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli Over Proposed 1GW Mega AI Data Centre Hub

### High-Stakes Development Triggers Environmental Concerns

Citizens and environmental organizations in Visakhapatnam have voiced strong opposition to the construction of mega data centre facilities in the region. A prominent protest demonstration, jointly spearheaded by the Coalition for AI Regulation and Green Visakha, took place along Beach Road as local communities raised urgent questions regarding resource sustainability and ecological impact.

### Land Allocation and Strategic Partnerships

The controversy follows the Andhra Pradesh state government's decision to allocate approximately 601 acres of land across three strategic locations in Visakhapatnam and neighboring Anakapalli district.

Under this initiative, Raiden Infotech India Pvt. Ltd.—a subsidiary of Google—has initiated plans to establish a massive 1-Gigawatt (GW) Artificial Intelligence data centre hub. Adani Infra and AdaniConneX have been designated as the primary development partners for this enterprise.

### Resource Allocation and Community Impact

While industrial developers frame the multi-acre expansion as a transformational tech investment for the state, local residents and ecological advocates remain apprehensive. Key concerns center around the immense power requirements and heavy water consumption mandated by hyper-scale data operations, raising questions about potential strain on the municipal water supply and regional infrastructure.

As public mobilization grows across Andhra Pradesh, civic groups continue to demand transparent reviews, stringent environmental regulations, and alternative location assessments to safeguard community interests.