Google's $15 Billion Indian Data Center Project Faces Opposition Over Water and Wildlife Concerns

Google's ambitious $15 billion data center project in Visakhapatnam, India is facing mounting opposition from environmentalists and local residents. The project, which has been touted as 'historic' by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to create up to 188,000 jobs and is being developed by Google in partnership with Indian billionaire Gautam Adani's group.

The concerns of activists and locals are centered around the potential impact on water supplies and wildlife. The project is located near a reservoir that already provides only half of the city's required water supply, and rationing is common in Visakhapatnam's 2.5 million population. Activists have expressed worries about the strain on this resource.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has asked the government to defend against allegations made by activist group Jal Biradari (Water Community) that the project will strain water availability. The state has denied these claims, stating that the site is farther away from a nearby wildlife sanctuary than required by law and that Google will implement sound-dampening measures.

The court case highlights the growing pushback against data center buildouts globally due to their high water usage for cooling servers. In India, this issue takes on added importance as the country struggles with its own water shortages.