NGT Seeks Centre’s Reply On Vizag Data Centre Clearance
The National Green Tribunal has directed the central government to respond to a petition: Reports
VISAKHAPATNAM: The National Green Tribunal has directed the Data Centre to respond to a petition challenging the environmental clearance granted to the proposed `17,700-crore Adani Infra Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre project here.
Former CPM corporator Boddu Gangarao filed the appeal against the clearance issued on June 10, 2026, for the 512-mw project, proposed on 601.4 acres within the Adivivaram and Mudasarlova village limits.
Gangarao stated that the site lay about 750 metres from the Kambalakonda wildlife sanctuary and approximately 470 metres from its notified eco-sensitive zone. The project, he alleged, had been incorrectly classified under Category B2, allowing it to bypass a more rigorous environmental appraisal.
He argued that the project’s scale and proximity to ecologically sensitive areas warranted a comprehensive assessment at the central government level, rather than clearance by the state environment impact assessment authority.
The petition also raised concern about the project’s potential impact on the Mudasarlova reservoir, a major drinking water source for Visakhapatnam. It alleged that the proposed
development could disrupt streams feeding the reservoir, affecting inflows and long-term water availability.
Gangarao sought cancellation of the environmental clearance and an immediate halt to construction pending the tribunal’s final decision.
The NGT scheduled the next hearing for October 26, when the Centre is expected to submit its response.