Overview
- The Union government told Parliament that AI data centres do not automatically require a separate environmental clearance under the EIA 2006 rules and will be judged by existing construction thresholds.
- Under those thresholds a data centre with a built-up area above 20,000 square metres triggers prior clearance as a construction project and even larger township‑scale footprints meet Item 8(b) limits that require state authority review.
- Officials said water availability is considered when a project crosses the thresholds and that appraisals must include water‑balance reports, plans for greywater recycling and compliance with national water and air pollution laws enforced by state pollution boards.
- The Andhra Pradesh SEIAA has granted clearance for the Visakhapatnam Google‑Adani parks, but protests, petitions and local concern over freshwater supply and proximity to Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary remain active.
- The Centre pointed to the BEE district cooling guidance and an India AI Impact Summit working group on energy, water and resilience as mitigation tools, a stance that critics say leaves gaps in transparency and sector‑specific safeguards and could shape how future disputes are raised and decided.