Environmentalists and non-governmental organisations have expressed serious concern over the alleged destruction of green cover and ecological damage at the proposed Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre project site being developed by M/s Vizag Hyperscale Data Centre Park Limited at Mudasarlova in the city. They have sought the immediate stoppage of ongoing activities at the site.

In response to social media posts uploaded by a few environmentalists and Human Rights Forum (HRF), youth from the city have launched an online campaign highlighting concerns over the environmental degradation and the impact on the city’s fragile ecosystem.

Members of the Human Rights Forum (HRF) strongly objected to the reported NOC granted by the Forest Department for the project, citing adverse impact on the ecological sensitivity and biodiversity of the area located close to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.

HRF member V.S. Krishna said that a team from the organisation visited the proposed project site and was shocked to witness extensive clearing of trees. He alleged that portions of the landscape had already been altered for groundwork, land levelling and the laying of a temporary access road.

Mr Krishna further alleged that the project had not yet obtained mandatory Environmental Clearance (EC), but large-scale site activities are already being undertaken. He questioned how landscape alteration, tree felling and related works were being allowed without the required environmental approvals.

He also raised objections to the project being processed before the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) as a Category B2 project. According to him, due to its close proximity to the Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary and the eco-sensitive zone, the project should instead be classified as a ‘Category A’ project. He argued that it should therefore undergo appraisal by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) at the Centre, along with a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study and mandatory public hearing.