The State government has put at rest speculation over the future of the single largest investment in the State promised by the Adani Group in developing a solar energy-powered data storage and technology park in the city.
Former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had laid the foundation stone for the facility ahead of the general elections on February 14.
Power bank
The project proposed by the Adani Group envisaged an investment of ₹70,000 crore, including ₹30,000 crore on producing 5,000 MW solar power. The TDP government had announced the allotment of 500 acres, including 175 acres at Kapuluppada, for the project.
As per the proposal, the main centre will come up at Kapuluppada and two other mini centres on the city outskirts over a period of 20 years. Incidentally, the TDP government had given all the clearances in a record 36 days of signing an MoU.
Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy said on Wednesday on the sidelines of first Consulate Business Meet here that the YSRCP government would not shelve the project.
“It will certainly come. We are only renegotiating the deal to increase the cost of land on a par with the market price,” Mr. Goutham Reddy said.
“Due to data localisation laws enacted by the Central Government, India needed secured data storage. We are very happy with the decision to facilitate grounding of the project,” Vizag Development Council vice-president O. Naresh Kumar told The Hindu .
At the time of laying the stone, the Adani Group had announced that it would create jobs for 28,000 people and attract an additional investment of ₹1 lakh crore in big data, data analytics, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and cyber security.
The project allows power banking by the State by availing surplus power produced during the day and supply to farmers. In exchange, the State could supply whatever power needed by the data centres at night.
