Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh has said the planned data-centre ecosystem in Visakhapatnam will not affect the city’s water supply. He said separate water allocations and dedicated pipelines will be provided for the data-centre projects.
Lokesh made the statement in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly in Amaravati while responding to a question from Jana Sena MLA Lokam Naga Madhavi. He said misinformation was being spread about the water and environmental needs of data centres.
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The state government will ensure that water meant for Visakhapatnam residents is not diverted to data centres, Lokesh said. The city’s water supply and the needs of the data centres will be managed separately.
The planned data-centre ecosystem is expected to reach 6.5 GW of capacity. At this level, the projects could require around 3 TMC of water every year with current cooling technologies. Lokesh said newer cooling systems could further reduce the amount of water used by data centres.
Water for the data centres will come from the industrial allocation of Polavaram water. Visakhapatnam’s urban water needs will be supplied separately through the same project. A gravity-based water supply system for the city is expected to be ready within 18 months. Dedicated pipelines will also be built to supply water to the data centres.
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Lokesh also compared the water use of data centres with other large industrial projects. He said a 1 GW thermal power plant uses nearly 10 times more water each year than a data centre. He questioned why protests were focused on data centres when other industries have much higher water requirements.
The Andhra Pradesh government has set 6.5 GW as the maximum capacity for data-centre allocations in the state, following directions from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Lokesh said this target has now been fully achieved.
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According to Lokesh, data centres will play an important role in India’s growing AI and digital economy. He also said the projects are important for India’s data sovereignty as demand for digital infrastructure continues to grow.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
