Google data centre in Visakhapatnam will use air-cooling technology: MP

Visakhapatnam MP M Sribharat speaking to the media in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU Amid growing concerns over the high water consumption of the Google data centre coming up in Visakhapatnam, MP M. Sribharat said on Saturday that the facility would use air-cooling technology and not water.“Google has, on record, confirmed that it will use air-cooling technology. But even if all the upcoming data centres use water-cooling technology, there is no question of any impact on the water supply to Visakhapatnam,” he said.Speaking to select media persons at his residence in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Sribharat ridiculed the criticism from various sections, including civil society, over the adverse impact of setting up data centres in the Steel City.His remarks came ahead of a national public conference on AI data centres to be held at Alluri Sitarama Raju Vignana Kendram in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. The conference will discuss the environmental impact of data centres proposed in and around the city and is likely to release the “Visakhapatnam Declaration” covering concerns relating to water use, employment and the environment.Mr. Sribharat maintained that 3,000 TMC ft of water was flowing into the sea from Polavaram, of which 23.44 TMC ft was being brought to north Andhra. “Even if there is a shortfall of 20%, there will not be any problem as the irrigation system is good,” he said.The MP said water supply would need to be augmented only after six to seven years, when high water-consuming industries such as green hydrogen plants and new steel plants began operations.Asked about the radiation that data centres could discharge and its possible impact on the environment, Mr. Sribharat said the facilities would not have received environmental clearance if there was any significant impact.“There would be some heat outside the data centre, but if it were to impact the community to a large extent, we would not have got the clearance,” he said, adding that all legal requirements had been followed in obtaining the clearances.“Within the campus, heat will be generated. Even if we use an air-conditioner, it generates heat outside the house. But the question is how much it impacts the community at large,” he said, responding to concerns over the possibility of a heat island forming around data centres.On the argument that data centres would generate very few jobs after completion despite being allotted large tracts of land, Mr. Sribharat said the government was looking at creating a long-term economic ecosystem around the facilities.“This investment will have an impact on the wider ecosystem. It will attract start-ups, fintech institutions and GCCs (Global Capability Centres), which would be established closer to the data centres. The setting up of a data centre should be viewed as a critical infrastructure asset,” he said.He said data centres required air-conditioners, which were manufactured in Andhra Pradesh. Except for high-tech semiconductors, which would be imported, all other infrastructure required for the facilities would be sourced from local manufacturers, indirectly boosting the State’s manufacturing sector, he said. Published - September 05, 2026 08:08 pm IST