The Maharashtra Irrigation Scam was an alleged government scam which involved financial irregularities of ₹35,000 crore (US$4.9 billion) in the Indian state of Maharashtra during 1999–2009. The allegations of corruption were made after a 2012 Economic Survey stated that the state's irrigation potential had increased by only 0.1% during the past decade, even after ₹70,000 crore (US$9.8 billion) had been spent on the various projects. Vijay Pandhare, an engineer employed by the government claimed that more than half the amount had been pocketed by corrupt leaders. The Maharashtra Government rejected the allegations, stating that the 0.1% increase considered only "well irrigation" and did not take into account other projects. It released a whitepaper, stating that there was a 28% rise in the