Environmental organisation Green Visakha organised a brainstorming session with members of the legal fraternity in Visakhapatnam to deliberate on the environmental, social and legal implications of proposed hyperscale Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centres.
Held at Alluri Seetharama Raju Vignana Kendram, the discussion brought together environmental experts, legal professionals and civil society representatives to examine the long-term sustainability of large-scale AI infrastructure projects.
Focus on Environmental and Social Impact
Speaking at the session, Green Visakha President Raja Rama Mohan Roy stressed that hyperscale AI data centres should be evaluated not only from an economic perspective but also through the lens of environmental sustainability, natural resource conservation and social justice.
He highlighted concerns over the significant demand such facilities could place on land, water resources, electricity consumption and biodiversity, urging comprehensive assessments before project implementation.
Call for Greater Public Awareness
Professor Byragi Reddy of Andhra University emphasised the need to increase public awareness about the environmental implications of AI infrastructure and encourage informed discussions on balancing technological advancement with ecological sustainability.
Legal Compliance and Transparency Stressed
Representing the Human Rights Forum, V.S. Krishna underscored the importance of ensuring that proposed projects comply with constitutional provisions as well as environmental regulations.
Senior advocates participating in the discussion called for:
- Transparent Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
- Comprehensive Social Impact Assessments (SIA)
- Wider public consultations before project approvals
- Greater legislative scrutiny of Government Orders related to AI data centre projects
Participants also expressed concern that government decisions relating to the proposed projects had not been debated in the Legislative Assembly.
Balancing AI Growth with Sustainability
The discussion concluded with a consensus that while AI infrastructure is becoming increasingly important for digital growth, future projects must be planned with strong environmental safeguards, transparent governance and active public participation to ensure sustainable development.
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