The Reliance Industries data center project near Visakhapatnam is causing a lot of debate in Andhra Pradesh. A former government secretary, E.A.S. Sarma is very concerned about the favors the state government is giving to the project. He is talking about the land, water and jobs for young people.
A Lot of Questions About 854 Acres of Land
The government of Andhra Pradesh is giving Reliance around 854 acres of land in the Polipalli and Bhogapuram areas of Vizianagaram district for the Reliance Data Center project. E.A.S. Sarma says the land in this area is worth a lot of money around ₹13 crore per acre.
If we calculate the value of the land it is more than ₹11,000 crore. Sarma is asking if it is fair to give away valuable land without making sure the public benefits from it.
Allegations of Favors Worth ₹21,875 Crore
Sarma is also saying that the state government is giving the project even more favors and discounts worth around ₹21,875 crore.
He says that when we add the value of the land and other favors the total benefits for the company could be than ₹50,000 crore. This is causing a lot of discussion about the transparency and money involved in the project.
People Are Worried About Jobs for Local Young People
One of the concerns Sarma has is that there is no clear promise of jobs for local young people. He is asking why the government did not make sure that the company would hire people from the area even though it is giving them many favors.
Sarma thinks that projects that get many public resources and favors should help the local community directly.
Concerns About Water Usage
People are also worried about the water the data center will use. Reports say that around 7.5 to 12.5 million gallons of water may be taken from the Denkada project to support the facility.
Sarma is warning that taking much water could hurt the farmers who need it for their fields.
The Government Needs to Respond
The Reliance Data Center project is expected to bring a lot of investment and growth to Andhra Pradesh.. The big favors, land allocation and lack of clarity on local benefits are causing a lot of debate.
The state governments response to these concerns will be very important, in shaping what people think about the project.
