Udhagamandalam: The possibility of forming a separate authority for the development of the Nilgiris will be explored, said Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin here on Tuesday. He was reacting to a suggestion made at a press conference that a separate body should be constituted to take care of the development of the place in the wake of the recent natural calamity and the ecological problems confronting the hilly district. Pointing out that after many years, the Nilgiris had been hit by such a natural calamity, Mr. Stalin said that it had claimed 45 lives. Stating that relief had been provided to the families of nearly all the victims, he said that temporary houses had been given to 50 families. In order to protect the people from similar calamities that may occur again, the government has proposed to construct 1968 houses at an estimated cost of Rs. 59 crores. To a query, he said that the houses would be eco-friendly and the district administration was in the process of identifying suitable places. When asked,