Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Google’s India Data Centre Plans Face Local Backlash
Google is building a very large computer centre in Visakhapatnam, India.
These centres hold computers that help run apps and artificial intelligence tools.
The company says its project will bring investment and jobs.
Some local people worry that the centres could use too much water and electricity or damage the environment.
One farmer said she was sad to lose land where she had mango and cashew trees.
Google says it plans to cool its computers with air instead of water.
The state government says affected residents are receiving compensation and new housing.
Campaigners want independent studies before more data centres are built.
Google is building a $15 billion data centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, described as its largest outside the United States.
Residents and campaigners fear the project and other planned facilities could worsen water and power pressures and harm the environment.
Google says it will use advanced air cooling and says the project will support about 4,200 construction jobs and hundreds of specialist jobs once operational.
Andhra Pradesh says compensation and new housing are being provided to affected residents, and expects 188,000 direct and indirect jobs from the wider development push.
Activists want a pause on new state data centres until independent environmental and social impact assessments are published.
- Who
- Google, local residents and campaigners, and the Andhra Pradesh government.
- What
- Google is constructing a $15 billion data centre, while residents and activists raise concerns about its impacts.
- When
- The article says the centre is expected to become operational in 2028; construction is underway.
- Where
- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, on India’s southeast coast.
- Why
- India and technology companies are seeking to expand data-centre capacity and AI infrastructure; the site is also a landing point for submarine internet cables.
Local concerns and campaigners
Google and government proponents
Water and environmental effects
Local concerns and campaigners
Residents fear that data centres could strain water resources and damage the environment; campaigners are calling for independent assessments and a water audit.
Google and government proponents
Google says it will use advanced air cooling, while the state government says residents’ water needs will be prioritised.
Economic benefits
Local concerns and campaigners
Campaigners question whether highly capital-intensive data centres will create enough broadly accessible jobs and argue for labour-intensive industries.
Google and government proponents
Google says the project will generate $688 million in local economic activity annually and support about 4,200 construction jobs, with hundreds of specialist jobs once operational; the state projects 188,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Land and local residents
Local concerns and campaigners
Some residents describe distress over losing farmland, and campaigners object to the scale and pace of development.
Google and government proponents
The Andhra Pradesh government says affected residents are receiving financial compensation and new housing is being built and handed over.
- Project investment
- $15 billion
- Site size
- 600 acres
- Expected operation
- 2028
- Construction jobs supported
- About 4,200, according to Google
- Wider job estimate
- 188,000 direct and indirect jobs, according to the Andhra Pradesh government
- Cooling plan
- Google says it will use advanced air cooling technology
- Activists’ demand
- A moratorium on new state data centres until independent environmental and social impact evaluations are published