Google's R$75 billion data center in India divides city between revenue and environmental fear

Visakhapatnam (India) | AFP "Data is not drunk", proclaims a poster. In another, the Google logo appears in handcuffs. On the shores of the Bay of Bengal, in India, environmental opposition is growing against the data center that the American technology giant intends to install to power its AI systems.

The city of Visakhapatnam, in southeastern India, was chosen by Google to house what is expected to be its largest data center outside the United States, with a capacity of 1 gigawatt.

The promised investment, of around US$15 billion (around R$75 billion), was welcomed with open arms by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, determined to fully insert his country into the global race for artificial intelligence.

But the project is far from arousing the enthusiasm of the local population.

Environmentalists and residents of the Vizag region, as the city is also often called, are concerned about the daily impact of Google's future data center and its water and energy consumption.

Environmentalists are calling for a moratorium on construction of this type of facility pending independent assessments of social and environmental impacts.

They also fear that the project will not create as many jobs as promised.

"The United States has a huge coastline, they could have installed it there," says Gutta Rohith, from the Human Rights Forum, a local NGO. “Why are you coming here?” he asks.

Vizag is the entry point into India for the submarine internet cables that connect the country to Singapore. Therefore, the project location, with an area equivalent to more than 340 football fields, is considered ideal.

Google wasn't the only one to realize the region's potential. American group Digital Realty, in partnership with Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries and Brookfield, is investing US$11 billion (R$55 billion) in another data center to train AI models in Vizag.

The flood of investments does not convince residents. Some point out that one of the three plots of land chosen by Google is next to a natural reserve, while another is close to an important water table. Therefore, they took the case to court.

In the village of Tarluvada, Chandala Sadamma, a 50-year-old farmer, does not hide her indignation.

According to her, no one told her that the 0.8 hectare plot of land where she grew mangoes and cashew nuts, and which she agreed to sell for just over US$82,000 (R$409,000), would be destined for Google.

"When I look at this land, I want to cry," he says, watching the excavators.

"We already suffer from water shortages," observes Gubbala Ramanamma, a 57-year-old trader, standing in front of a dry well. "And I don't know what it will be like when the Google center is up and running."

“Entire civilizations have disappeared because of water scarcity,” adds E.A.S. Sarma, a former civil servant who demands that "an independent agency carry out a full audit" of the environmental impact.

Google promises that it will not use water to cool its systems, but rather an "advanced" air cooling mechanism.

"Investment in the AI ​​data center is a multi-decade commitment", which implies "an obligation to be good neighbors", Alexander Smith, Google's head of infrastructure and energy for the Asia-Pacific region, told AFP.

“This means that water resources, the electrical grid and the communities living near our facilities should benefit from our presence,” he said.

"As for water consumed for non-refrigeration needs, Google is committed, by 2030, to replacing 120% of the volume used in our operations," he added.

The Californian company will also invest "in new clean energy projects", promised the executive.

Google claims that its data center will have an annual impact of US$688 million (R$3.4 billion) on the local economy and will allow the creation of 4,200 jobs during the construction phase. The center is expected to come into operation by 2028.

The Andhra Pradesh government expects to create a total of "188,000 direct and indirect jobs".

The state also intends to build six nuclear power plants, with a capacity of 1.2 gigawatts, to meet the territory's enormous energy demand.