Google faces backlash against Indian data centre

Opposition to Google's planned AI data centre in India's Visakhapatnam has grown, with critics citing potential strain on water and power resources, environmental damage, and insufficient job creation. The US$15 billion project, touted by India as a key to its technological aspirations, is set to occupy over 600 acres of land on the southeast coast - a location favoured for its submarine internet cable connections to Singapore.

Farmer Chandala Sadamma, who sold her 2-acre plot for over $82,000, expressed distress at the loss of her mango and cashew trees. "I feel like crying," she lamented. Despite compensation, she questioned the respect shown by the company that took her land.

Google's director of infrastructure and energy for Asia-Pacific, Alexander Smith, assured that the company would adhere to the principle of 'being a good neighbour', with a commitment to improving the watershed, grid, and surrounding communities. The Andhra Pradesh government pledged financial compensation, new housing, and job creation in return for the land.

However, opposition groups demand a moratorium on new data centres until comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments are published. The proposed data centre is one of several significant tech projects in Visakhapatnam, raising concerns about escalating land prices and potential over-reliance on high-capital industries.

Google claims it will employ advanced air cooling technology to minimize water use, while the state plans to build six 1.2-gigawatt nuclear power plants to meet growing energy demands. Despite this, water scarcity remains a pressing concern, particularly as Vizag plans to become a tech megahub.

While Google asserts its data centre will generate $688 million in local economic activity and support 4,200 jobs during construction, critics argue that the economic benefits may not be evenly distributed. They advocate for a focus on mass employment and labor-intensive industries over high-capital tech projects.