The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has called for private-sector proposals for a "Green AI/Data Centre Vertical" initiative. This comes amid pushback from local tribes over a ₹91,000-crore mega infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island.
Proposed data centre sites include Hutbay Sea Area and Netaji Nagar Sea Area on Little Andaman,plus Campbell Bay,Anderson Bay,Vijay Nagar Bay,and Gandhi Nagar Bay on Great Nicobar . These locations are part of a draft master plan that also envisions a transhipment port and an airport .
On August 10, EoI was released as talks continued with local tribal councils about the master plan, which was first revealed earlier this year. The plan outlines developments that could affect local ecosystems and communities.
Over 70 experts and scientists have urged Environment Minister to consider the irreversible damage such projects could cause to the region's biodiversity. They argue these developments threaten vital wildlife corridors and habitats .
Local tribal leaders are frustrated by the lack of transparency on the data centre project. A Tribal Council member from Great and Little Nicobar said their recent meeting with officials was only 15 minutes long and provided little information.
During this brief meeting,council members were asked about buffer zones around their settlements,but felt their concerns went unaddressed. The administration mentioned buffer areas of 30 to 100 meters,but council members insisted on a thorough survey before decisions.
The EoI specifies that proposals should focus on renewable energy solutions for data centre operations,emphasizing innovative cooling systems that don't use freshwater . It also calls for infrastructure supporting high-performance computing and cloud services .
Additionally, the EoI encourages submissions exploring waste-heat recovery systems for potential uses like low-temperature desalination . The initiative is described as “market sounding” exercise to gauge private sector interest,without binding contracts.
Proposals are due by September 24, 2023, to IT Secretary’s office. The administration's role will be limited to coordination and support, including land access, power,connectivity, and environmental safeguards.
The call for proposals targets diverse entities,including hyperscalers, cloud providers,AI infrastructure firms, and marine-engineering companies. The aim is to develop a sustainable digital infrastructure using the islands' strategic location and resources.
As the project advances,local communities remain worried. clash between ambitious plans and environmental and social concerns leaves the future of the Nicobar Islands and their people uncertain.
