In October 2025, the Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google, through its subsidiary Raiden Infotech India Pvt Ltd, for the establishment of a large-scale AI data centre complex in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts. The project was proposed as part of Google’s Rs 1.35 lakh crore (approximately) investment plan in the state over five years from 2026 to 2030. Partners include AdaniConneX, Airtel Nxtra, Adani Infra (India) Pvt Ltd (primary “notified partner”), Adani Power India, Bharti Airtel, and Nxtra subsidiaries.

On 18 October 2025, Human Rights Forum (HRF) raised an alarm, calling the project a ‘looming environmental and economic disaster’ in its statement, highlighting opaque land-pooling processes as ‘coercion/pressure on small farmers and Dalit landholders'. 

“We were never told about any data centre; this land was originally granted to our grandparents and to generations before them, over 57 years ago. The survey number does not match the actual ownership. We have also been threatened to vacate the land as soon as possible,” one resident who identifies as a Dalit person from the community told the Environmental Reporting Collective (ERC).

“We had to clear the jungle ourselves; it took us 15 years, 15 long years. We worked hard, shed our blood for this land. We built it with pain and determination,” recalls Relli Ramakrishnan, speaking to the Environmental Reporting Collective (ERC).
This information, which was posted on Instagram in the form of a reel, was removed, drawing criticism. ERC** **also called for reinstatement of the video and more accountability and transparency from technology giant Meta.
The same report also highlighted the lack of consultations with community members and the cumulative environmental impact assessment report. The project site, located in the villages of Adavivaram and Mudasarlova in Visakhapatnam Rural Mandal, is situated in proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary and its notified Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

HRF also demanded an immediate halt to land acquisition and clearances until full, transparent review and public disclosure of all MoUs, agreements, and impact reports. The project has been classified under Category B2 of the Union government’s 2006 EIA Notification, exempting it from a full Environmental Impact Assessment and public consultation, while requiring clearance only from the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). Activists have questioned the classification, arguing that the project’s proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary should place it under Category A, requiring scrutiny by the Union Environment Ministry.

The project envisions the development of a 1 GW hyperscale AI data centre hub along with subsea cable landing stations and supporting fibre infrastructure. Adani Infra (India) Pvt Ltd was designated as the primary “notified partner” for the project. Initially, land was allotted through G.O.Ms. No.40 dated 11 October 2025. The land allocation was revised up to 601.4 acres from the initial allocation of 600 acres spread across three locations, including 266.6 acres at Tarluvada near Anandapuram, identified as the principal hub. The other two locations were 160 acres at Adavivaram and Mudasarlova in Visakhapatnam district, and 175 acres at Rambilli in Anakapalli district. 

Another key concern is that the statutory filings contradict the conclusions of the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), noting that 90% of the Tarluvada project site falls within the Pedda Chukka Konda Reserve Forest. In another instance, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Andhra High Court challenging the State government’s allotment of 160 acres of endowment land to the data centre, because it was temple land. The petition was filed by environmental activist and Jal Biradari National Convenor Bolisetty Satyanarayana, who contends that the land, spread across Survey No 275 of Adavivaram and Survey No 26 of Mudasarlova, belongs to the Simhachalam Devasthanam.

For implementation of the project, three Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) were incorporated: Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Ltd., Vizag Mega Data Center Park Ltd., and Vizag Rambilli Data Center Park Ltd. On 19 February 2026, the Andhra Pradesh government announced the land acquisition for the Tarluvada portion had been completed, with 308 acres acquired and 266.6 acres formally handed over for the project. 
Officials stated that 51 assignees had provided written consent during the acquisition process.

Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, under whose constituency Tarluwada falls, said the project will become a growth engine for Visakhapatnam.
Of the total extent, approximately 204 acres comprise D-Patta lands and unrecorded Shivaijamindar lands. Initially, the compensation rates were fixed at ₹17 lakh per acre for D-Patta lands and ₹8.5 lakh per acre for unrecorded lands. Following representations from the affected farmers, the compensation rates were revised to ₹20 lakh per acre for D-Patta lands and ₹10 lakh per acre for unrecorded lands. In addition, farmers will be allotted 20 cents of developed land in the vicinity for every acre surrendered and will receive monetary compensation for the remaining 80 cents.

Each affected family would be provided a job, a shop in a shopping complex for livelihood support, and three cents of house-site land for 520 farmers cultivating under the wasteland development scheme,” he said. The Andhra government has also proposed providing electricity at Re 1 per unit for a period of 10 years, with a possibility to extend depending on the achievement of targets. Official data indicate a declining trend in groundwater levels across several parts of Visakhapatnam district, pointing to emerging pressure on water resources during the peak summer season. The groundwater levels within 10 metres (around 30 feet) are generally considered manageable, while deeper levels indicate growing stress, states a report by The Indian Express. 

On 23 April 2026, the opposition party CPI (M) also staged a protest against the alleged detention of leaders who went to meet farmers from Tarluvada, who gave their lands for the establishment of the project. As per a report by The Hindu, party leaders demanded compensation and house sites for the affected farmers. In April 2026, foundation stone ceremonies were held for the first phase of the Google–Adani AI Data Centre Complex in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts. The commissioning of the project is currently targeted for July 2028.