Google-Adani data centre PIL in AP High Court challenges environmental clearance and 160-acre temple land allotment at Visakhapatnam.
A Public Interest Litigation before the Andhra Pradesh High Court has raised questions over environmental clearance and the use of temple land for the proposed Google-Adani data centre in Visakhapatnam.
A major proposed data centre project involving Google and the Adani Group in Visakhapatnam has come under judicial scrutiny after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Andhra Pradesh High Court challenging the project’s environmental clearance and the allotment of land for the facility.
The petition raises concerns over the proposed use of 160 acres of land belonging to Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam, Simhachalam, for the data centre project. The petitioner has questioned the legality of the land allotment as well as whether the environmental safeguards applicable to such a large infrastructure project have been properly followed.
The litigation brings into focus the balance between Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to attract large technology investments and the need to protect environmentally sensitive areas and properties belonging to religious institutions.
Environmental Clearance Under Challenge
One of the principal issues raised in the PIL concerns the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted for the proposed project. The petitioner has questioned whether the clearance adequately addresses the potential environmental consequences of establishing a large-scale data centre in the Visakhapatnam region.
Data centres require substantial infrastructure, including continuous electricity supply, cooling systems, water resources and extensive built-up facilities. Consequently, environmental assessment becomes particularly important when such projects are planned on large parcels of land.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has reportedly sought clarity on the project’s environmental approvals and resource requirements while hearing the challenge. The Court has also emphasised that statutory environmental requirements cannot simply be bypassed.
The case therefore places the regulatory process surrounding the project under closer judicial examination.
160 Acres Of Simhachalam Temple Land
Another significant aspect of the PIL relates to the proposed use of 160 acres of land belonging to Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam at Simhachalam.
The petitioner has challenged the allotment of the land, contending that the property is temple land and that its transfer or utilisation for the data centre must comply strictly with the statutory framework governing religious and endowment properties.
The issue assumes significance because temple properties are subject to specific legal and administrative safeguards. Any decision concerning their use for a major commercial or industrial project must therefore satisfy the applicable statutory requirements.
The High Court has also directed officials to ensure compliance with statutory requirements concerning the proposed use of temple land for the project.
State Defends Environmental Safeguards
The Andhra Pradesh Government, while responding to the concerns raised before the High Court, has maintained that the necessary steps are being taken to protect the environment and that actions connected with the project are being undertaken in accordance with applicable laws.
The State’s position is significant because the project is being promoted as a major technology and investment initiative for Visakhapatnam. At the same time, the government’s assurances will have to be considered alongside the statutory requirements governing environmental protection and the use of temple properties.
The High Court has, at this stage, not treated the economic importance of the project as a reason to dispense with environmental or other statutory safeguards. Instead, the proceedings underline that development projects must move forward within the framework of law.
The proceedings can therefore have wider implications for future large-scale infrastructure and technology projects involving substantial land requirements and environmental considerations.
The PIL before the Andhra Pradesh High Court represents an important judicial examination of whether development, environmental protection and preservation of institutional property can be balanced within the existing legal framework. The outcome of the proceedings may determine how the proposed Google-Adani data centre project proceeds and whether additional regulatory safeguards are required.
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