Google defends $15 billion Vizag AI hub as water concerns, land disputes and protests put project under scrutiny

Google has defended its $15 billion artificial intelligence (AI) data center project in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, saying it will use advanced air-cooling technology rather than water-based systems as concerns over the region’s fresh water resources intensify.

Google is behind its $15 billion AI center in Vizag

The project, which the company describes as its largest artificial intelligence center outside the United States, has drawn protests from residents and environmental activists over water availability, land acquisition, environmental risks and the number of jobs likely to reach local communities.

Alexander Smith, Google’s head of infrastructure and energy for Asia Pacific, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the company assessed the local watershed before choosing the cooling technology. The findings indicate pressure on local water resources, he said, which led to the decision to use air cooling.

Smith said Google conducts independent environmental assessments 12 to 24 months before a project begins, examining factors including power, network stability, water hazards, ecology and noise.

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The facility is expected to be operational in 2028 and is part of Google’s planned $15 billion investment in India over five years, from 2026 to 2030.

Concerns about water and the environment persist

Google’s assurances did not end with opposition to the project. Residents fear the data center, along with other proposed facilities in the region, could put further pressure on electricity supplies, affect local ecosystems and exacerbate existing water shortages.

The company is committed to replenishing 120 percent of fresh water used for non-cooling purposes at all of its operations by 2030. Smith also said that Google will fund necessary energy infrastructure upgrades and invest in other clean energy projects in Visakhapatnam.

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However, environmental activists are pushing for more transparency about the project’s potential impact. According to The Guardian, three petitions have been filed with the National Green Tribunal challenging its environmental credentials, claiming that environmental and water risk assessments were inadequate.

Land acquisition also became controversial. Some villagers in Tarluvada alleged that the land was taken without adequate notice and that the promised benefits did not materialise. The Andhra Pradesh government disputed the claims of forcible acquisition and said that eligible residents had received compensation.

Jobs and economic benefits under control

Employment is another point of contention. Google estimates that a development of this scale could generate approximately $688 million in local economic activity annually.

A typical data center project is said to employ approximately 4,200 construction workers per year during the three- to five-year construction period, supporting hundreds of specialized on-site roles once operational.

The Andhra Pradesh government anticipates 188,000 direct and indirect jobs from the development. But activists question whether the capital-intensive industry will provide enough jobs for residents who need work on a much larger scale.

Gutta Rohith of the Human Rights Forum told AFP the region needed mass employment and labor-intensive industries rather than investment that generated relatively fewer permanent jobs.

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The dispute reflects a broader question facing communities hosting large technology projects: whether the economic gains will be shared locally, while residents bear the environmental and social costs.

Google described the investment as a multi-decade commitment and pointed to Visakhapatnam’s connectivity and access to international undersea internet cables as advantages for building an AI hub and digital infrastructure.

The company’s air-cooling commitment addresses one of the most significant issues for now, but land, environmental permits and employment issues remain unresolved. The project’s progress will be closely watched as India expands its data center capacity to meet growing demand for AI computing.