Andaman and Nicobar Islands withdraws call for interest in private sector-led data centre project
The Andaman and Nicobar administration has withdrawn an Expression of Interest for a private-sector-led green AI data centre project. The decision follows public outcry and protests from local Nicobarese residents regarding the lack of transparency and potential environmental impact on Great Nicobar Island.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing tension between large-scale infrastructure development and the rights and environmental concerns of indigenous communities in ecologically sensitive regions.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has withdrawn an Expression of Interest (EoI) it had issued calling for feasibility proposals for a private-sector-led green AI data centre vertical in the islands. In a notice issued days after the EoI was published on August 10, the administration said that it was withdrawing the EoI with immediate effect “due to administrative reasons”.
The withdrawal comes even as The Hindu reported that the local Nicobarese population on Great Nicobar Island said that they were not informed of any such plans for a data centre in the sea areas around GNI. The locals on GNI are already protesting against the government’s proposed ₹91,000 crore mega-infrastructure project.
The call for feasibility proposals for the data centre had notably identified certain sea areas around Little Andaman and Great Nicobar Island for this data centre project.
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