VIJAYAWADA: Cautioning against reckless industrial expansion, T Lakshminarayana of the Andhra Pradesh Development Forum (APDF) has called on the state government to adopt a balanced approach toward proposed mega AI data centres.
In a press statement on Saturday, he warned against sacrificing public resources, specifically water, electricity, and land, to boost corporate profits.
Lakshminarayana emphasised that true progress must go beyond attracting foreign multi-nationals or inflating corporate bottom lines.
While welcoming technological advancement and investment in high-tech sectors like AI, he argued that state policies must prioritize environmental stability, sustainable resource management, and long-term human development.
The core concern centres on the vast resource requirements of Vizag’s planned AI data centres. Lakshminarayana pointed out that local rivers cannot currently meet the drinking and industrial demands of Vizag and Anakapalle.
Although 23.44 TMC of water has been earmarked from the Polavaram Left Main Canal, timel for delivery is uncertain.
With Polavaram’s Phase-2 Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) requiring an estimated Rs 25,000 crore to achieve its full reservoir level of +45.72 meters, the forum questioned when this allocated water would realistically reach the coast.
Lakshminarayana insisted that the government must satisfy the existing water needs of local residents, Vizag Steel Plant, and established industries before guaranteeing allocations to mega-data centres.
Energy infrastructure poses a similar challenge. Data centres demand an uninterrupted, high-capacity power supply. While the state proposes tapping into Rayalaseema’s solar, wind, and pumped-storage projects via the Green Energy Corridor Phase-III, questions remain regarding real-time grid stability, storage capacity, and transmission readiness.
Lakshminarayana urged the government to publish comprehensive white papers for all proposed AI projects detailing exact land, water, power, and subsidy requirements.
He stressed that development must serve the public interest, create livelihoods, and protect natural assets for future generations.