Maharashtra Imposes Rs 94 Crore Fine on Megha Engineering for Illegal Excavation

Mumbai: Maharashtra revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule informed the assembly on Friday that a fine of Rs 94.68 crore was imposed on Megha Engineering Infrastructure Ltd for illegal excavation of minor minerals during road construction. The company's confiscated machinery was released pending the hearing of its appeals after it deposited 1% of the fine amount in one case, he said.

Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering Infrastructure has been in the news recently due to several controversies. Notably, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) cancelled a contract awarded to it after L&T, a rival bidder, challenged the tender process in the Supreme Court. This cancellation further highlighted the company's legal and operational challenges.

Megha Engineering Infrastructure was accused of illegally excavating minor minerals during the construction of roads on the Shegaon and Pandharpur pilgrimage routes in Jalna district. In various cases, the additional district collector of Jalna imposed a fine of Rs 38,70,05,520, and the tehsildar of Partur (district Jalna) imposed a fine of Rs 55,98,55,600 through various orders. The minister stated this in a written reply to a question by BJP MLA Babanrao Lonikar.

As the company challenged the orders, the minister directed it to deposit Rs 17.28 lakh, which is 1% of the fine amount in a case before the Partur tehsildar, in the state treasury, said Bawankule. The company challenged the tehsildar's order before the additional revenue divisional commissioner-1 at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. However, the commissioner rejected the appeal.

The minister further stated that he instructed the Partur tehsildar to return the confiscated machinery after the company deposited 1% of the fine amount. The tehsildar has filed seven other cases against the company, he added. This decision reflects the government's commitment to enforcing regulations and ensuring fair practices in the construction and mining sectors.

Megha Engineering Infrastructure's challenges highlight the importance of adhering to legal and regulatory standards in infrastructure projects. The fine and the legal proceedings serve as a deterrent to other companies that might engage in similar illegal activities. The government's action also underscores its dedication to protecting natural resources and maintaining the integrity of public infrastructure projects.