Hans News Service Visakhapatnam

Thegovernment deliberately downgraded mega data centres, which should be strictly classified under ‘category A’ due to stringent environmental laws, to ‘category B2’ to grant environmental clearances, national convenor of Jal Biradari and environmentalist Bolisetty Satyanarayana raised strong objections over government regulatory violations.

Referring to recent statements made by Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat assuring that the proposed data centres and major industrial projects pose no threat to water resources and the environment, Bolisetty Satyanarayana disagreed with the MP’s explanation.

“Classifying a mega data centre as ‘category B2’ in the Google project bypasses the mandatory public hearing and comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes required for Category A,” Satyanarayana objected, pointing out that issuing environmental clearances swiftly and laying the foundation stone immediately is entirely wrong.

This is an ‘illegal’ move designed to suppress citizens’ voices and conceal the environmental damage caused by such projects. In the name of ‘ease of doing business’, Satyanarayana alleged, the city witnesses ‘ease of doing destruction’, which is a severe ecological onslaught and a major blow to the peaceful life of the people. He demanded classification of the proposed data centres under category A and a halt to progress made without central-level screening and public consultation.

Responding to the MP’s assurance of water supply through Polavaram, Satyanarayana asked, “What if Polavaram water becomes unavailable due to drought or some other reasons? Data centres will deplete Visakhapatnam’s groundwater.

The proposed alternative desalination plants will discharge chemical brine into the ocean, destroying marine wealth and wiping out fishermen’s livelihoods.”

Satyanarayana further warned that these projects, with a peak load capacity of 700–900 MVA, lack adequate renewable energy sources at the ground level and cautioned that it will strain regular power grid, leading to frequent power cuts and tariff hikes for citizens.

Talking about growing city temperatures, the national convenor said cutting down trees along the coast and massive heat emitted by the data centres will further alter Vizag’s climate, turning it into a concrete furnace.

Jal Biradari demanded an immediate halt to the data centre works until an independent environmental audit is conducted democratically in the presence of the public. “Data centres are essential for Andhra Pradesh’s economic growth and employment in the digital age. However, if we fail to plan ahead and enforce strict regulations, keeping Virginia’s experiences in view, the environment will be destroyed before Vizag could even become an IT hub,” he added.