Water from the Polavaram project will be provided to the data centres proposed to be established in Visakhapatnam from the quantum earmarked for industries and without affecting the drinking and agriculture needs of the area, asserts Nara Lokesh, Education, IT and Electronics Minister.

Replying to a question raised by Nellimarla MLA Lokam Naga Madhavi on the concerns being raised on the proposed data centres, in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, Mr. Lokesh said that misinformation was being deliberately spread on the issue.

Andhra Pradesh had achieved the target of attracting data centres of 6.5 GW capacity in Visakhapatnam, he said, adding that Google’s decision to establish its facility in the Port City had encouraged other global technology companies to consider setting up their units too in the city.

On water needed for the data centres, Mr. Lokesh said that 3,000 tmc of Godavari water was annually flowing into the Bay of Bengal, and a portion of it would be diverted through the Polavaram project and brought to Visakhapatnam by gravity.

Upon becoming fully functional, the 6.5-GW capacity data centres would require about 3 tmc of water, he said. “Water required for the facilities will be met from the allocation earmarked for the industries,” Mr. Lokesh said, adding that dedicated pipelines would be laid instead of diverting water from the existing city infrastructure.

Observing that water consumption was declining with technological advances, he cited the air-cooling systems used at a data centre he visited in the U.S.

“Drinking, irrigation and industrial requirements of Visakhapatnam will be protected, and drinking water from Polavaram will reach the city by gravity within 18 months,” Mr. Lokesh asserted.

Dwelling on the power required for the data centres, he said a one-GW thermal power project consumed roughly 10 times more water than a data centre. At least 70% of the power used by the data centres would come from green sources such as solar, wind and pumped storage. He also said that a 100-MLD desalination plant was being established by a company.

Mr. Lokesh said that data centres would create a wider ecosystem involving advanced chips, cooling systems, transformers, power electronics, logistics, warehousing, real estate, transport, hospitality, retail and maintenance services. He further said manufacturing and industries were also being attracted to Rayalaseema.

Stating that three cable landing stations planned would connect Visakhapatnam with global networks, the IT Minister said the government was working to transform the city into an ‘AI City’. He dismissed allegations of environmental violations, and urged people not to believe fabricated videos or misinformation.

Mr. Lokesh said development would impose pressure on nature, but the government was committed to minimising it through sustainable mechanisms. The government, he added, would take responsibility for advancing data centres, the IT ecosystem, pharma manufacturing in Anakapalli and the steel ecosystem.

Degree college buildings

Replying to a question raised by Allagadda MLA Bhuma Akhila Priya, Mr. Lokesh said the government was examining proposals to provide permanent buildings to 37 government degree colleges across the State.

He said the government would construct a new building for the Government Degree College in Allagadda, where student strength increased from 18 in its first year to 103 in 2025-26. He said about ₹15 crore would be required to provide complete infrastructure at each college, including classrooms and laboratories.

Model libraries

The Minister also announced plans to establish model libraries in all the 175 Assembly constituencies in three years. He said the Kadapa library would be completed in nine months.

The government had already developed a model library in Mangalagiri, where nearly 300 students were preparing for competitive examinations, he said.

Mr. Lokesh said the proposed Amaravati Central Library would be integrated with the Global Institute of Good Governance and a Telugu Cultural Centre, creating a major library and training campus. Its design would be finalised soon.

He also announced plans for major zonal libraries in Visakhapatnam and Rayalaseema, equipped with competitive examination resources, auditoriums and other facilities.

Published - August 19, 2026 07:32 pm IST