NGO discusses environmental implications of AI data centres

Environmental NGO Green Visakha hosted a brainstorming session on Sunday at Alluri Seetharama Raju Vignana Kendram in Visakhapatnam to discuss the environmental, social, and legal implications of planned hyperscale AI data centres. Raja Rama Mohan Roy, president of Green Visakha, argued that such projects must be evaluated based on their impact on natural resources, environmental health, and social equity, taking into account the potential effects on land, water, electricity consumption, and biodiversity.

Professor Byragi Reddy from Andhra University emphasized the need for enhanced public awareness regarding these projects, while V.S. Krishna from the Human Rights Forum stressed the importance of adhering to constitutional and environmental regulations. Senior advocates advocated for transparent environmental and social impact assessments, as well as broader public consultations, expressing concern that government orders pertaining to these projects had not been thoroughly debated in the Legislative Assembly.