The Andhra Pradesh High Court warned that environmental clearances cannot be sidestepped for the Google‑owned data centre in Vizag. The bench has asked the state for a detailed response on alleged land‑transfer irregularities and asked the Advocate‑General to clarify the government’s position.

  • The High Court insists that environmental clearance procedures cannot be ignored.
  • The state must explain alleged illegal land transfer and permissions.
  • The Advocate‑General is directed to clarify the government’s stance.

A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill, declared that the prescribed environmental clearance process cannot be given a go‑by for the Vizag data centre owned by Google. The observation came while hearing a public‑interest litigation filed by Jal Biradari national convener Bolisetty Satyanarayana.

The petitioner alleged that Vizag Hyperscale Data Center Park Limited (VHDCPL) received 160 acres of land and clearances in an opaque, possibly illegal manner. He further claimed that the project lacks any data localisation as required under the Enforcement of Public Records Act, rendering the promised digital‑economy benefits illusory.

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Advocate Virag Gupta argued that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) never explicitly mentioned Google and that the land belongs to the Simhachalam Devasthanam, questioning the legality of its transfer. He highlighted that the site lies just a kilometre from the eco‑sensitive Kambalakonda Reserve Forest, classifying it as a Category‑A project that demands central‑government scrutiny.

Government counsel replied that steps are being taken to comply with all statutes and a consolidated response on the ‘lease/transfer’ of temple land will be filed. Nine state departments have been made parties to the case, underscoring its complexity.

Chief Justice Gill stressed that environmental protection is a core responsibility of the state and that officials involved will be held accountable once their names are disclosed. This stance signals a tougher judicial approach toward large‑scale, energy‑intensive infrastructure projects.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this case sets a precedent for stricter judicial scrutiny of tech‑giant data‑center projects in India, forcing corporations to adhere to transparent environmental norms before gaining land and permits.

"By sidestepping environmental standards, corporations not only endanger local ecosystems but also expose themselves to heightened legal risk," says environmental law expert Dr. Priya Menon.
Did You Know?: The Kambalakonda Reserve Forest was declared an eco‑sensitive zone in 1994, limiting high‑impact developments nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does the data centre need to store Indian data locally?
A: Under the current Public Records Act, certain categories of data must be stored within India, but Google’s Vizag project reportedly does not meet this requirement.

Q2: What could happen if the court finds procedural violations?
A: The court can cancel the clearances, order a fresh compliance process, and take action against the officials responsible for the lapses.