Civil society groups in Visakhapatnam have called for a temporary halt, or moratorium, on approvals for new AI data centre projects.
The demand comes as Visakhapatnam is being positioned as a major hub for AI and data centre investments.
The groups have raised concerns over the possible impact of large-scale data centres on the city's natural resources.
Water consumption has emerged as one of the key issues raised by citizens and environmental groups.
Concerns have also been expressed regarding the growing energy requirements of AI and hyperscale data centre infrastructure.
Civil society representatives have sought greater transparency regarding the environmental and resource implications of proposed projects.
They have argued that questions surrounding water availability and long-term sustainability should be addressed before further approvals are granted.
Earlier concerns have also been raised regarding proposed data centre projects in areas including Tarluvada, Rambilli and Adavivaram-Mudasarlova.
The latest call for a moratorium highlights the growing public debate surrounding rapid data centre expansion in Visakhapatnam.
The Andhra Pradesh government has simultaneously been moving ahead with major technology and AI-related investments, including approvals connected to a large Google-linked AI data centre project.
Civil society groups are seeking a more comprehensive assessment of environmental, water and energy impacts before additional projects move forward.
The issue is expected to remain significant as Vizag continues its push to become a major technology and digital infrastructure hub.