New Delhi, Aug. 24 -- The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the state government to ensure that work on the proposed $15-billion Google-Adani data-centre project in Visakhapatnam is carried out with the required legal and environmental permissions.

"Environmental clearances cannot be given a go by," the court said, directing authorities to ensure that work at the site is carried out with the necessary permissions.

A bench led by Chief Justice Lisa Gill made the observations after being told that work at the site had already begun.

Petitioner Bolisetty Satyanarayana, who filed the plea challenging the project approvals, sought an interim status quo order. "My request is. interim prayer for the status quo till the time matter ...