Shillong, Jan.17: Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang will lead a delegation of senior ministers and officers to the three districts of Garo hills from Monday in an attempt to bridge the regional divide.

There are constant complaints from various pressure groups and people of the region about lack of development in the Garo hills compared to the Khasi hills.

A government official today said Lapang would begin the four-day tour to the three districts — East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and West Garo Hills — tomorrow.

The chief minister will hold review meetings with district heads of offices in Williamnagar, Baghmara and Tura to get first-hand knowledge of the progress of developmental work in the Garo hills region. He will also attend the Meghalaya 38th Day celebrations on Thursday in Tura. It was on January 21, 1972, that Meghalaya attained statehood.

Lapang is likely to announce some development package for Garo hills. Poor road connectivity, frequent power cuts and lack of healthcare and education opportunities are plaguing Garo hills.

The infant and maternity death rates are quite high in the region and there has been a significant rise in malaria deaths as well last year.

Audits had also unearthed several loopholes in the implementation of the central initiative, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), in the region.

The rural areas of Garo hills are the worst affected because of poor communication facilities. Coupled with poor road connectivity, air connectivity in Garo hills is a distant reality. Baljek Airport, which was inaugurated more than a year ago by President Pratibha Patil, is yet to be made operational.

The poor development pattern in the past had even compelled the pressure groups from Garo hills to demand a winter Assembly session in Garo hills.

There were also protests by the Garo Students’ Union against the apathy on the part of the government in repairing many roads in the region.

The chief minister will be accompanied by deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma from West Garo Hills, urban affairs minister Prestone Tynsong, community and rural development minister M.M. Danggo, chief secretary W.M.S. Pariat and adviser to the chief minister, Anish Gandhi.