NGT Challenges Google Adani Vizag Data Centre Clearance

• The National Green Tribunal has sought a Central government response regarding the environmental clearance for a ₹17,700 crore Google-Adani data centre in Visakhapatnam.
• The project, part of a $15 billion AI hub, is located near the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone.
• An appeal by Boddu Ganga Rao alleges the project was wrongly classified as Category B2, requiring a more stringent Central government appraisal instead of State clearance.
• The environmental clearance for Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited was granted on June 10, 2026.
• The NGT coram has scheduled the next hearing for October 26 in the case of Boddu Reddy v. Union of India.

This NGT challenge to the Google Adani Vizag data centre clearance brings to the forefront critical questions regarding environmental oversight for major infrastructure developments across India.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formally requested a response from the Central government concerning a legal challenge. This challenge targets the environmental clearance granted to a substantial data centre project, a key component of the Google and Adani Group's artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure initiative in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Valued at ₹17,700 crore, this project is now under scrutiny in the case of Boddu Reddy v. Union of India. A coram comprising Judicial Member Justice (retired) Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Expert Member Prashant Gargava is overseeing the matter, with the next hearing scheduled for October 26.

The appeal was initiated by Boddu Ganga Rao, a former corporator of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, who is contesting the environmental clearance that was issued on June 10, 2026, to Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited, a special purpose vehicle operating under Adani Infra (India) Limited.

The proposed 512 MW data centre is located in Adavivaram and Mudasarlova villages within Visakhapatnam. This facility is a component of Google's larger $15 billion AI hub planned for the city, developed in collaboration with AdaniConneX and Airtel. The appellant, Boddu Ganga Rao, contends that the project's classification was incorrect, alleging it was designated as a Category B2 construction project.

Crucially, the site is situated approximately 750 metres from the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary. Furthermore, it lies just 470 metres from the sanctuary's officially notified Eco-Sensitive Zone, raising concerns about its environmental impact.

The central argument in the appeal revolves around the project's proximity to a protected ecological area. Boddu Ganga Rao asserts that due to its location near the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone, the project should have undergone a more rigorous environmental appraisal. Such an appraisal, he argues, should have been conducted by the Central government.

Instead, the environmental clearance was provided by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The plea suggests that the project's nature and location warranted a higher level of scrutiny than what a Category B2 classification typically entails, implying a Central government review was necessary for proper oversight.

This NGT challenge to the Google Adani Vizag data centre clearance brings to the forefront critical questions regarding environmental oversight for major infrastructure developments across India. The ongoing dispute over the correct project classification and the appropriate authority responsible for environmental appraisal holds the potential to establish significant precedents for future projects.

For large-scale initiatives, especially those representing substantial financial commitments like the ₹17,700 crore Adani Google AI infrastructure Visakhapatnam development, the integrity and process of obtaining National Green Tribunal environmental clearance are of paramount importance. The eventual outcome of Boddu Reddy v. Union of India will be closely monitored by both developers and environmental advocacy groups, as it could directly influence future regulatory requirements for projects situated in proximity to sensitive ecological zones. This case vividly underscores the persistent tension between the drive for rapid industrial and technological advancement and the essential need to safeguard India's diverse natural heritage, particularly when projects such as the Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited are planned near areas like the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone.

Lawyers advising on large infrastructure projects, particularly data centers or those near protected ecological zones in India, must monitor this NGT case for potential shifts in environmental clearance requirements and the classification of projects, which could impact project timelines and approvals.

Source: Reporting based on a legal news source