Andhra Pradesh High Court refuses to halt Google data centre project
it allows the work being done by Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited to continue at its own risk and cost, while clarifying that any investment or development undertaken will not vest any legal equities or rights in its favour in the event of an adverse judgment
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh has decided to permit the ongoing Google data centre project in Visakhapatnam district to continue at its own risk and cost, pending the resolution of a writ petition filed by environmental activist Bolisetty Satyanarayana. The Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Challa Gunaranjan clarified that the project's success would not grant VHDCPL any legal rights if the court were to rule against it.
They emphasized that the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) ongoing case would not prevent the court from moving forward with the case following Supreme Court precedents, urging the NGT to be informed of the pending writ petition.
The judges acknowledged assurances made by the State government on August 24, 2026, regarding the strict adherence to environmental laws and caution during the project's development. The court opted not to issue an interim order or impose a status quo, enabling the project's progress, while legal battles over environmental clearances and the allocation of temple-owned land continue.
During the proceedings, Virag Gupta, representing the petitioner, requested an immediate halt to the project, arguing that its true scope was not fully disclosed. He contended that, due to its proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary, the project falls under Category-A, requiring approvals from the Union of India, which invalidated state-level clearances.
Advocate-General Dammalapati Srinivas countered that the project is categorized as Category-B, thus under state jurisdiction, with a separate NGT petition already filed concerning environmental clearances.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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