Visakhapatnam’s ecologically significant Tarluwada Hills, long regarded as a natural lifeline for the city, are now echoing with the roar of heavy machinery. Environmental activists have alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government is destroying the fragile landscape of the Eastern Ghats in the name of a proposed data centre project.
According to the allegations, hill cutting has begun even before obtaining all mandatory environmental clearances, raising serious concerns over the destruction of natural drainage channels that feed Gambhiram Gedda, one of Visakhapatnam’s key water systems. Environmentalists argue that development should not come at the cost of irreversible ecological damage.
Bulldozers in the Eastern Ghats
The Tarluwada Hills are more than just rocky terrain. Experts say these hills form a crucial part of the Eastern Ghats ecosystem and serve as a natural watershed that channels rainwater into Gambhiram Gedda.
However, large-scale excavation is reportedly underway to prepare the site for a data centre. Environmental groups claim that satellite imagery shows a dramatic transformation, with once-green hill slopes now replaced by exposed earth and extensive excavation.
140 Acres of Hill Under Threat
According to details cited in the report, nearly 140 acres of hill terrain are being levelled for the project.
Critics allege that an area which once naturally stored and directed rainwater has now been extensively altered through heavy cutting and excavation. Local residents have also expressed concern over the use of massive excavators and rock-cutting equipment, claiming that the original topography of the hills is rapidly disappearing.
Threat to Gambhiram Gedda Water System
Environmental experts warn that the Tarluwada Hills play a critical role in supplying rainwater to Gambhiram Gedda.
According to their assessment, the ongoing excavation could result in:
- Damage to natural drainage channels.
- Reduced groundwater recharge.
- Long-term impact on Visakhapatnam’s water security.
- Loss of biodiversity.
- Permanent alteration of the ecological balance of the hill ecosystem.
Work Began Before Environmental Clearances?
The report alleges that excavation activities commenced before all mandatory environmental approvals were obtained.
Environmental organisations argue that beginning work before completing the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process would amount to a violation of environmental regulations. They have questioned why the concerned authorities have not responded to the alleged violations.
“Development at the Cost of Nature”
Environmentalists maintain that while data centres are essential for economic growth, they need not be constructed in ecologically sensitive areas that support critical natural water systems.
They argue that destroying hills and blocking natural drainage pathways could eventually lead to flooding, water scarcity, and long-term environmental degradation, making such development unsustainable.
Key Demands of Environmental Groups
Environmental organisations have reportedly demanded that the government:
- Immediately halt excavation activities in the Tarluwada Hills.
- Make all environmental clearances related to the project public.
- Conduct an independent scientific study on the impact of the project on the Gambhiram Gedda watershed.
- Take legal action if any environmental laws or procedures have been violated.
Development or Environmental Destruction?
The large-scale excavation in the Tarluwada Hills has triggered a major debate in Visakhapatnam. While one side argues that data centres are essential for economic development and investment, the other believes that the project is causing irreversible damage to a fragile ecosystem and an important natural water source.
Amid these competing narratives, environmentalists are urging the government to clarify whether all statutory environmental procedures have been followed and to explain how the project will safeguard the future of Gambhiram Gedda and the city’s ecological balance.
