The National Green Tribunal has sought a response from the Centre on a petition challenging the environmental clearance granted to the proposed Vizag data centre, a ₹17,700-crore, 512-MW project planned across 601.4 acres in Visakhapatnam’s Adivivaram and Mudasarlova village limits.
The petition was filed by former CPM corporator Boddu Gangarao against the clearance issued on June 10, 2026. The tribunal has scheduled the matter for October 26, when the Centre is expected to submit its response.
According to the petition, the proposed Adani Infra Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre site is about 750 metres from the Kambalakonda wildlife sanctuary and approximately 470 metres from its notified eco-sensitive zone. Gangarao has argued that the project was incorrectly classified under Category B2, a classification that allowed it to avoid a more rigorous environmental appraisal.
The petitioner has said that the project’s scale and proximity to ecologically sensitive areas required a comprehensive assessment at the central government level. He has challenged the decision to allow the clearance through the state environment impact assessment authority and has sought cancellation of the environmental clearance.
The case places the environmental approval of a large digital infrastructure project within a wider urban governance question: how major data centres should be assessed when they are located close to protected areas, water systems and expanding urban settlements. The supplied petition does not establish that construction has caused environmental damage or that the allegations have been accepted by the tribunal.
Gangarao has also raised concerns about the Mudasarlova reservoir, described in the petition as a major drinking water source for Visakhapatnam. He has alleged that the proposed development could disrupt streams feeding the reservoir, potentially affecting inflows and long-term water availability.
The petition seeks an immediate halt to construction pending the tribunal’s final decision. At this stage, the NGT has sought a response and has not, based on the available report, issued a final ruling on the validity of the environmental clearance or the alleged risks to the sanctuary and reservoir.
The project’s proposed capacity, land area and location make the proceedings relevant to the way Visakhapatnam manages the competing demands of digital infrastructure, ecological protection and urban water security. The next formal milestone is the October 26 hearing, when the Centre is expected to respond to the challenge.
