Archive · 8 Oct 2026
TD Defends Visakhapatnam AI Data Centre Against Water Concerns
A large AI data centre is planned for Visakhapatnam.
It is expected to cost ₹1.5 lakh crore.
Telugu Desam leader Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar defended the plan against concerns about water, electricity and the environment.
He said drinking-water supplies would not be used for the centres.
He also said the centres would recycle water and use special cooling systems.
According to him, they would have their own power infrastructure rather than relying on the city’s regular household grid.
He said reaching full capacity would take two and a half to three years.
He also said the project had environmental clearance and courts had not stopped it.
Telugu Desam leader Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar defended the proposed ₹1.5 lakh crore AI data centre in Visakhapatnam.
He said 12 TMC ft allocated for drinking water would not be diverted and industrial supplies would use separate pipelines.
He said the centres would use closed-loop cooling, recycled greywater and dedicated power infrastructure.
Vijay Kumar said the project could take 2.5 to three years to reach its stated maximum capacity of 6.5 GW.
He said courts had declined to stay the project and that SEIAA cleared it on June 10 under 2006 EIA norms.
- Who
- Telugu Desam leader and AP Biodiversity Board chairman Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar defended the proposed project.
- What
- He defended a proposed ₹1.5 lakh crore AI Hyper-Scale Data Centre and rejected concerns about water, power and environmental effects.
- When
- Vijay Kumar spoke on Thursday; he cited Rajya Sabha proceedings on August 6 and an SEIAA clearance dated June 10. The years were not specified.
- Where
- The proposed data centre is in Visakhapatnam; Vijay Kumar addressed the media at the Telugu Desam central office in Mangalagiri.
- Why
- He said the project would create direct and indirect jobs while protecting natural resources, and alleged opponents were trying to stall it.
Project concerns
Project defense
Water, power and environmental effects
Project concerns
Concerns have been raised about the project’s impact on drinking water, electricity supply and the environment; petitions were filed in the High Court and National Green Tribunal.
Project defense
Vijay Kumar said drinking-water supplies would not be diverted, industrial water would use separate pipelines, and the centres would use recycled water and dedicated power infrastructure.
Whether the project should be halted
Project concerns
Vijay Kumar alleged that Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others were seeking to stall the project through court and tribunal petitions.
Project defense
Vijay Kumar said both the High Court and National Green Tribunal had declined to grant a stay, and that SEIAA had cleared the project.
- Proposed investment
- ₹1.5 lakh crore
- Stated maximum capacity
- 6.5 GW
- Estimated time to full capacity
- 2.5 to three years
- Visakhapatnam water allocation cited
- 28.44 TMC ft from the Polavaram Left Canal, including 12 TMC ft exclusively for drinking water
- Environmental clearance cited
- SEIAA cleared the project on June 10 under the 2006 Environmental Impact Assessment norms
- Water measures claimed
- Closed-loop cooling, recycled greywater and a commitment to become water-positive by 2030