Congress U-turn on MEIL: Revanth govt awards another big-ticket project to firm it once called ‘East India Company’

MEIL has recently been awarded a Rs. 3,374.8 crore contract by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board for a comprehensive water infrastructure initiative

Hyderabad: Once labelled the ‘East India Company’ by the Congress under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) appears to have now emerged as the Congress government’s go-to contractor, raising questions and political heat over the ruling party’s apparent volte-face.

Despite earlier accusations by Congress leaders, including Revanth Reddy, of monopolising infrastructure contracts and misusing public funds, MEIL has now been awarded a slew of high-value tenders by the same party’s government. The most recent is a Rs. 3,374.8 crore contract from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board for a comprehensive water infrastructure initiative.

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The contract includes laying dual pipelines from Mallannasagar to Ghanpur, and construction of water treatment plants and storage reservoirs. The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model with an operations and maintenance clause extending for 10 years.

MEIL, which was once under fire from the Congress for its alleged role in inflated costs and mismanagement in the previous government’s Kaleshwaram project, is now firmly embedded in key projects under Congress rule. This includes the Narayanpet–Kodangal Lift Irrigation Project, which was split between MEIL and Raghava Constructions, a company owned by a Congress minister’s family. The award further sparked allegations of political favouritism.

Adding to the controversy is the fact that despite last year’s collapse of the Sunkishala retaining wall, part of another Water Board initiative in Nalgonda district. Still, despite internal recommendations to blacklist MEIL, the firm has continued to secure new contracts from the government.

Reacting on X, BRS leader Nayani Anurag Reddy lashed out at the Congress for its duplicity.

“Kaleshwaram proves its value. Revanth proves his hypocrisy. They called it a scam, said it collapsed. Now they’re sourcing water for Musi rejuvenation and drinking needs from #Mallannasagar, part of Kaleshwaram. Rs. 3,382 Cr tender handed to Megha, the same company they once accused of being a thief. So what changed? Turns out, it wasn’t Kaleshwaram that collapsed. It was their lies! Jai Telangana,” he posted.