The latest agreement signed by Google with the Andhra Pradesh government for setting up of the biggest AI-powered data centre at Visakhapatnam has kicked up a political slugfest between the YSR Congress party and Telugu Desam Party.
On Thursday, YSRCP president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has the habit of indulging in “credit chori” and “publicity politics.”
Jagan stated that the Google Data Center project, now being flaunted by the TDP government as its own achievement, was in fact initiated, planned, and grounded during the YSRCP government’s tenure.
“In November 2020, during the pandemic, our government allotted land to Adani Group to set up a 300 MW Data Centre in Visakhapatnam. The foundation stone was formally laid on May 3, 2023. Alongside, we also initiated the Subsea Cable Project connecting Singapore and Visakhapatnam, a 3,900 km undersea data corridor, which is the backbone of the entire data network,” he said.
He claimed that it was the YSRCP government, the Centre, the Singapore Government, and the Adani Group who worked together to make this possible.
“What you are seeing today as the Google Data Centre is nothing but the expansion of that original Adani project,” he said.
Within no time, the TDP leaders have shot back, saying the data centre project was originally conceived in January 2019, when the TDP government signed an MoU with the Adani Group to establish a 5-gigawatt hyperscale data centre in Visakhapatnam over 20 years at an estimated cost of Rs 70,000 crore.
“Within 35 days of the agreement, Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the Adani Data Centre at Kapuluppada, allotting 400 acres for the project and related renewable energy plants,” the TDP claimed.
The party alleged that after coming to power, Jagan’s government reviewed the project, claiming the earlier deal was long-term and nonviable.
The administration suggested the Adani Group revise its proposal, following which the company scaled down its plan to Rs 3,000 crore over 89 acres.
“Later, an understanding was reached for a Rs 21,800 crore investment to set up a 300 MW data centre, IT business park, and recreation facilities across 160 acres. Jagan once again laid the foundation for the revised project on May 3, 2023,” the TDP pointed out.
Interestingly, while the YSRCP’s social media cadres earlier criticized the project — calling it an environmental threat and dismissing it as merely a “warehouse” — Jagan has now taken a U-turn.
In his latest comments, he said the data centre will boost the regional ecosystem, attract investments, and create employment, marking a stark shift from his party’s previous stance.
