India, April 20 -- Since the BJP-led Mahayuti government first came to power in July 2022, it has approved 225 proposals for irrigation projects, including proposals for new projects worth Rs.1.18 lakh crore and cost escalations exceeding Rs.60,000 crore for ongoing projects, according to data presented by the irrigation department before the state cabinet last week.

Completing all 225 projects would require an additional Rs.2.56 lakh crore while nearly half of the work orders awarded since July 2022 pertained to Vidarbha and the Marathwada, the data shows; these regions are historically affected by irrigation backlogs and are considered strongholds of the ruling coalition.

The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance had assumed power in July 2022, a...