The Mamata Banerjee government has decided to review every project undertaken by the 16 hill development boards since their inception, the decision aimed at identifying the truth in allegations of financial impropriety against some of the boards.

“Over the last few years, questions have been raised on fund utilisation by these boards... The government, it seems, wants to find out the truth of these allegations before the GTA and the panchayat polls in the hills,” said a source in state secretariat Nabanna.

The first development board, the Mayel Lyang Development Board, was notified on February 6, 2013. Since then, the chief minister had formed 15 more boards in the hills, which the Opposition called an attempt to divide the hill people with identity politics.

Mamata had contested the criticism by ensuring funds for development projects.

Administrative sources in the hills said that on Friday, S.K. Thade, the officer on special duty of the backward classes welfare department, came from Calcutta and held a meeting with the development board’s functionaries in Darjeeling to convey “a very strong message” from the state government.

“The superintendents of police of Darjeeling and Kalimpong and district magistrates also attended it. The presence of SPs in such meetings is rare. It was clearly stated in the meeting that financial fraud could lead to arrests,” said a source.

Complaints about the functioning of the board were compiled digitally and placed at the meeting.

“Officials even pointed out that the government had also received complaints about a board member buying a shop at a shopping complex in Siliguri and building luxurious houses. These, too, would be looked into,” said a source, adding that rifts in some boards between the chairman and vice-chairman were also flagged by officials.

The state government has directed the boards to geotag all the projects undertaken by the boards since inception. “The geotagging is to be done by the district administration and not the board. A proper audit is also to be done. Only after geo-tagging is the next set of funds likely to be released to boards,” said a source.

Geotagging can help users find a variety of location-specific information from a device.

The development boards have taken up projects like building houses, homestays, community centres, pony roads, among others. However, the major project of the boards has been to construct homes of beneficiaries at Rs 2 lakh.

Most complaints revolve around construction of houses. The state government is also looking at whether funds meant for homes have been diverted elsewhere.

While 14 boards are under the backward classes welfare department, the Khas board is under the north Bengal development department and the minority board under the minority affairs department.

The boards are not under the purview of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). The first board was formed when relations between Mamata Banerjee and then GTA chief Bimal Gurung had soured. Many believe that the boards were formed to politically counter Gurung in the hills.