Why do you think its a wastage of tax payers' money ? I am not sure how much government is contributing towards this project. As far as I know, most of the iron is coming from public. Even if government is contributing some portion, most of the money will be used inside country to pay to the people. Money spent will be visible unlike those NEREGA schemes where money is pocketed by filing fictitious bills. Calculate the cost of real estate of Various "Samadhis" at Rajghat of various leaders and you will find that each one is worth of 1000 crore. Why does nation need a separate Samadhi for Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi? I am sure one "family Samadhi" should have been enough.
RK^2
This huge money could have been used for all sorts of good reasons. A Tall Trade Centre, A Medical Centre or a educational Institute just to name a few. Medical Centre could have promoted medical tourism or a Trade Centre could have helped in attracting investment or helped businesses.
I also disagree with you on MANREGA scheme. It's one of the good work done by UPA govt to create jobs. The loopholes in the scheme is a different thing but the scheme has helped many poor to earn bread and butter. The scheme is also being considered by western countries. You can read about it here:
http://www.economist.com/node/14816641
Rural job guarantees
Faring well
Excerpt:
The idea has appeal even in rich countries. Paul Gregg of Bristol University and Richard Layard of the London School of Economics have called on the British government to provide a “job guarantee” to anyone out of work for more than 18 months (and any youngster out of work for a year). In countries like Britain, there is a thin line between a job guarantee—providing work to anyone who needs it—and workfare—denying benefits to anyone who refuses it. Mr Gregg and Lord Layard are insistent that the government pay market wages for the jobs it provides under any such scheme. "This is essential for the credibility of the job," they write.