Google's $15bn data centre project in Visakhapatnam, India — built in partnership with the Adani Group — is facing growing opposition over water scarcity and proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. The city already faces a daily water deficit of 70 million litres, and residents fear the hyperscale facility will worsen shortages. Conservationists warn construction could disturb leopards and pangolins living 860 metres away. Multiple legal challenges have been filed, with a High Court hearing scheduled. The state defends its environmental approvals and has guaranteed water supply for 20 years, while Google cites advanced air cooling to reduce water use. The dispute reflects a broader global pattern of community resistance to AI infrastructure buildout, with similar protests recorded across the US and New York becoming the first state to freeze new data centre permits.
