2 hrs ago
Andhra Pradesh Secures Agreements for 6.5 GW Data Centres
Andhra Pradesh says it has signed agreements for data centres that together could use 6.5 gigawatts of computing power.
These projects are now beginning to be built.
One important project is Google’s AI data centre.
Minister Nara Lokesh said work has already started and should finish on time.
Some local people are worried that data centres could use too much water.
Lokesh said the water would come from sustainable sources.
He also said the projects would not take water away from farms or cities.
The state says 70% of the energy will come from renewable sources.
Officials are talking with local communities about their concerns.
Andhra Pradesh has completed agreements targeting 6.5 gigawatts of data centre compute capacity, Nara Lokesh said.
The projects are moving toward execution, with work already underway on Google’s AI data centre project.
Lokesh said the Google project is expected to be completed on time.
He said water for the projects would come from sustainable sources and would not reduce supplies for farming or cities.
The minister said 70% of the energy would come from renewable sources and that the state had followed due process on environmental clearances.
- Who
- Andhra Pradesh government and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh; Google is involved in an AI data centre project.
- What
- The state has secured agreements for 6.5 gigawatts of data centre capacity, with projects moving toward execution.
- Where
- Andhra Pradesh, including the Google project discussed in connection with Visakhapatnam.
- When
- Lokesh made the remarks on Thursday at the 13th Annual Forum 2026.
- Why
- The projects are intended to support broader economic growth while the state addresses concerns about water use, energy consumption and environmental clearances.
Project Supporters
Community and Environmental Concerns
Economic development
Project Supporters
Lokesh said the projects could act as a catalyst for economic growth in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and India.
Community and Environmental Concerns
The article reports concerns from local communities about the potential effects of the projects, particularly on water resources.
Water use
Project Supporters
The state says project water will come from sustainable sources and will not be taken away from farming or cities.
Community and Environmental Concerns
Local communities have raised concerns about whether data centres could affect water availability.
Environmental approval
Project Supporters
Lokesh said the state had followed due process and treated the matter as a state subject.
Community and Environmental Concerns
The article does not provide a separate response from critics on the environmental-clearance issue.
Key facts
- Target capacity
- 6.5 gigawatts of data centre compute capacity
- Project status
- Agreements completed; projects are moving toward execution
- Google project
- Work is underway and is expected to be completed on time
- Renewable energy share
- 70% of energy is expected to come from renewable sources
- Water approach
- The state says water will come from sustainable sources without reducing supplies for farming or cities
- Environmental process
- Lokesh said the state followed due process and described environmental clearance as a state matter
- Community engagement
- The government is engaging local communities to explain the projects and address concerns
Quotes
Nara Lokesh
Andhra Pradesh State Human Resources Development Minister
“If you look at our approach in Andhra, is that one, water is being given from sustainable sources. It will not take water away from farming or from the city, number one. Seventy per cent of the energy is going to come from renewable energy”
deccanchronicle.com
“Our mandate is to do a 6.5 gigawatts of data center compute capacity in Andhra Pradesh, and we have already achieved it. I mean, as in we have done all the agreements and the projects are getting grounded”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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