Environmentalist seeks clarity on clearances for Vizag AI data centre

Environmentalist and Jal Biradari national convener Bolisetty Satyanarayana on Monday sought clarification from the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government on environmental clearances for large artificial intelligence (AI) data centres to be set up in Visakhapatnam.

Releasing a letter addressed to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Environment Minister K. Pawan Kalyan at a media interaction in the city, Mr. Satyanarayana sought to know whether a 1 GW AI data centre requires prior environmental clearance under Items 8(a) and 8(b) of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.

Mr. Satyanarayana also sought clarification on environmental and wildlife approvals for proposed data centres at Tarluvada and Mudasarlova, citing their proximity to Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary and its eco-sensitive zone. He called for environmental impacts to be assessed before construction begins.