Calcutta, Jan. 11 :    Calcutta, Jan. 11:  The government has asked the Calcutta Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to implement infrastructure projects in Haldia in an effort to speed up development work in the industrial town. Realising that industry's first choice is Haldia, the government has drawn up an action plan which includes several projects to develop the entire township and provide infrastructure facilities and better civic amenities to prospective investors. A sum of Rs 700 crore has been earmarked for the purpose initially. The projects include construction of new roads and a modern sewerage system and solid waste management. A water treatment plant will also be built to provide safe drinking water to the people of Haldia. According to officials at Writers' Buildings, the rush of investors has increased after the government unwrapped a host of incentives for setting up industries, including downstream projects of Haldia Petrochemicals. The government said it was unhappy with the poor performance of the local authority in implementing development projects and, therefore, decided to engage CMDA for the purpose. Urban development minister Ashok Bhattacharya, who is also chairman of the Haldia Development Authority, recently held a meeting with chief secretary Manish Gupta and the managing director of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, D.P. Patra, to finalise the action plan and work out ways in which to speed up development work in and around the Haldia industrial area. The government plans to project the Haldia Petrochemicals Complex during its election campaign. It does not want to give the Opposition any opportunity to ask embarrassing questions. 'More and more entrepreneurs are lining up in the industrial town. The importance of Haldia is gradually increasing. To cope with the rush and to provide all infrastructure facilities to the investors, we are giving priority to develop Haldia. Haldia Development authority, Haldia municipality and other agencies are engaged in the purpose,' Bhattacharya said. The minister said CMDA had vast experience in implementing time-bound development projects. Besides, it had experienced engineers, technicians and sufficient number of dedicated workmen. 'To avail of the expertise of CMDA, we have engaged them in implementing projects at Haldia,' Bhattacharya added. 'We are taking several measures to speed up infrastructure development at Haldia so that the new entrepreneurs can set up their industries without facing any problems,' chief secretary Gupta said.