Google's $15 billion India data centre project battles water, wildlife concerns

Reuters reports that Google’s planned $15 billion data-centre hub in Andhra Pradesh, India, is facing rising environmental and legal opposition even as construction is already underway. Activists and local groups argue the project could strain water supplies in a city already facing shortages and harm wildlife near the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. The state government denies the allegations, says the project was properly cleared, and states it is open to feedback and court scrutiny. Google says the development complies with Indian regulations and will use advanced air-cooling and sound-dampening measures to reduce environmental impact. The dispute highlights the growing global backlash against energy- and water-intensive AI/data-centre buildouts and could become an early test for Google’s largest-ever India investment, but the article does not indicate a direct near-term financial hit to the stock.