HC hears plea against Google data centre, says project is subject to its decision on Writ Petition

A man walking past a banner displayed on AI Data Centers in Visakhapatnam. Construction of Google data centre has been met with resistance from residents. FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSE

A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill and comprising Justice Challa Gunaranjan said on Wednesday that the proposed Google data centre project in Visakhapatnam Rural Mandal would remain subject to the final decision of the writ petition filed by Jal Biradari National Convener Bolisetty Satyanarayana and at the risk and cost of Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited (VHDCPL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, as ordered earlier. The Bench, however, did not go into the merits of the case due to paucity of time as it was dealing with some time-sensitive petitions related to NEET admissions. Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas appeared on behalf of the respondents. The court recorded the submissions made by the counsel for VHDCPL with regard to compliances. The petitioner’s counsel Virag Gupta, insisted that VHDCPL was carrying out construction of the data centre in the prohibited, eco-sensitive zone of Kambalakonda. In its counter affidavit, the company stated that the project was being implemented as per applicable rules and permissions granted. Mr. Gupta clarified that the challenge was confined to the 160-acre parcel of land belonging to the Simhachalam Devasthanam out of the total 600 acres spread across three locations, and not about the remaining two sites. Besides, he contended that the 30-year lease granted for non-temple industrial purposes was illegal, and urged the court to record an interim restraint against any construction activity within one kilometre distance of the Kambalakonda wildlife sanctuary. Taking note of the presence of Rajendra Singh, Founder of Jal Biradari, in the courtroom while posting the case to a later date, Chief Justice Gill said the court would like to listen to him on the next date of hearing, either physically or through a video conference strictly for assistance in the case.