Andhra Pradesh High Court has refused to halt Google’s data centre project in Visakhapatnam as it continues examining legal challenges concerning land allotment, environmental impact and the use of property belonging to Simhachalam Devasthanam.The Google data centre project is one of Andhra Pradesh’s biggest technology infrastructure initiatives. However, environmentalist Bolisetti Satyanarayana has challenged aspects of the development, raising concerns about water consumption, ecological impact and the legality of allocating temple land.

The dispute includes approximately 160 acres belonging to Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Vari Devasthanam in the Adavivaram and Mudasarlova areas. The temple authorities have maintained before the court that the land belongs to the deity and forms part of its core endowment.The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation has defended the process. APIIC told the High Court that the detailed project report and land proposal underwent due diligence before being placed before the State Investment Promotion Committee and State Investment Promotion Board. The proposal subsequently received Cabinet approval.

AP High Court Reviews Google Hub’s Land Allotment

Andhra Pradesh High Court is examining the Google data centre dispute as APIIC argues that auctioning land is not the only permissible method for allocating public resources, citing the project’s economic potential and competition for technology investments. The case also involves environmental concerns over the project’s substantial water and electricity requirements, its proximity to the Kambalakonda eco-sensitive zone and the nearby Mudasarlova Reservoir.

The Google-backed development is planned as a major AI and hyperscale data centre hub in Visakhapatnam. Its scale has made the project important to Andhra Pradesh’s ambition of emerging as a technology and digital infrastructure destination.The High Court’s refusal to halt the project provides immediate relief for its continued development, but it does not end the underlying legal dispute.

Further judicial scrutiny could remain important for determining questions surrounding temple property, environmental compliance and land-use procedures.For Andhra Pradesh, the case now represents a crucial balance between attracting major technology investment and ensuring large infrastructure projects comply with environmental and legal requirements.