Rs 500-crore drive on table

TT, Calcutta, Sept. 20: The Mamata Banerjee government is awaiting signals on how the people in the hills react to the proposed board of administrators and is planning to pump in funds to send a message that its priority is to implement development projects in the region.

"It will be interesting to see whether people of the hills accept Binay Tamang (the proposed head of the board) as the new leader," a government source said.

Although the initial reaction from the political parties in the hills towards the board has been negative, the government has chalked out funding plans for development projects.

"The GTA will be given Rs 500 crore in the next six months to undertake development projects.... The board of administrators will plan and monitor the expenditure. This is bound to give a foothold to Tamang," said an official.

The official added that the government felt the time was ripe to give Tamang the responsibility.

Sources explained that the period was perfect to take up development projects as the monsoon was set to depart from the region soon. As there will be several road, construction and drinking water projects, people in the region will get an opportunity to earn a livelihood, which has been seriously affected in the past three months.

A section of officials said the plan to appoint the board to run the GTA was taken soon after the government managed to create a division among the Morcha leadership.