Vizag data centres lack transparency on water, power and jobs, say speakers at HRF meet
Speakers question the transparency of AI data centre projects in the State, their water and power needs and the jobs they promise
The Human Rights Forum (HRF) concluded its tenth Visakha district conference in Visakhapatnam on October 4, 2026. The event focused on the late lawyer and civil rights activist Balagopal, who advocated for non-hierarchical work culture and fact-finding on the ground. About 100 attendees, including young participants and veterans, gathered at Alluri Vignana Kendram in Daba Gardens.
Y. Rajesh, general secretary of the HRF's Andhra Pradesh unit, highlighted the organization's recent engagement in the debate on data centres and AI data centres. Attendees expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding water and power requirements, as well as the limited information on job creation. Rajesh also accused the police of obstructing processions and blocking social media posts.
Phanindra, a software developer and member of the Free Software Movement, delivered a presentation titled "These Destructive AI Data Centers" following a short film. He warned that powering such facilities might affect communities that have already suffered due to hydroelectric projects like Polavaram and solar projects requiring vast acreage in Anantapur district.
Phanindra pointed out that data centres elsewhere still rely on thermal, fossil fuel, and nuclear power, citing a proposed 3,200-MW power plant in Srikakulam district. He also mentioned that the State's proposed data centre capacity now stands at 8 GW, up from the initial target of 6.5 GW, based on figures from stopdirtydatacenters.org.
During the question-and-answer session, participants inquired about their role as technology users in addressing the issue.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
