Andhra Pradesh: The process of acquiring land for the proposed Google data center in Tarluwada, Anandapuram Mandal, Visakhapatnam district, is progressing well, with most farmers agreeing to sell their land.
B.R.B. Naidu, the village sarpanch of the Telugu Desam Party, told Deccan Chronicle that “except for four or five farmers, all others have expressed their willingness to give up their land.” He added that compensation payments have already begun, with the government offering a higher rate than the valuation set by the sub-registrar’s office. In addition, farmers will receive 20 cents per acre of land surrendered, an opportunity for outsourcing jobs, a shop in a shopping complex, and a housing plot worth three cents.
Farmers have requested that the land be within one kilometer of the data center site.
In a recent meeting with local villagers, Bheemili MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao announced that the foundation stone for the Google data center is expected to be laid in March. At the meeting, farmers demanded additional benefits, including the construction of a main road, a community hall, and increasing the housing plot size from three to five cents for the 520 farmers who planted trees on government land.
Sarpanch Naidu said the village YSRC leaders had also agreed to give their land, indicating a consensus and minimal opposition to the project.
