Allegations of Favoritism Towards Megha Engineering
Vijay Wadettiwar, the opposition leader in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, has launched a serious accusation against the MahaYuti government, alleging their involvement in a ₹ 1,400 crore scam linked to the Kondhane dam project, which is under the management of CIDCO. He claims the government has favoured Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Limited (MEIL), dubbing the firm the administration’s “beloved contractor.” According to Wadettiwar, this project is being misused to funnel election funds to the ruling alliance.
Call for Investigation
Calling for a thorough investigation, Wadettiwar declared, “If our party regains power, we will scrutinise all alleged scams associated with the MahaYuti government.”
Neglecting Farmers’ Needs
Wadettiwar criticised the administration for prioritising lucrative contracts for companies like MEIL while neglecting farmers. He highlighted the recent drop in soybean prices, asserting, “As the government enriches its favoured contractors, farmers struggle to secure fair prices for their crops. It seems the administration cares more for Adani and Megha Engineering than for addressing the challenges faced by farmers.”
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Cost Overruns and Project Changes
Delving into the specifics of the Kondhane dam project, he revealed that CIDCO, one of the state’s financially strong entities, had paid ₹100 crore to the original contractor for just 35% of the work before abruptly changing the project specifications. This shift from a soil-based dam to a reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structure reportedly doubled the project’s costs from ₹700 crore to ₹1,400 crore, allegedly to benefit MEIL.
Questionable Contract Awards
Wadettiwar further condemned the government for awarding high-value contracts to MEIL, including a recently approved ₹18,838 crore Thane-Borivali subway project. He raised concerns over the project’s budget increase from ₹14,000 crore to ₹18,000 crore, questioning MEIL’s expanding influence in the irrigation, transportation, and power sectors. The company has secured numerous projects across the state, including in Nagpur and Pune.
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Political Donations and Influence
Additionally, Wadettiwar highlighted that MEIL has been a significant political donor, contributing ₹584 crore to the BJP—60% of its total donations—alongside donations of ₹195 crore to the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and ₹85 crore to the DMK.