An ambitious externally-aided $33.2 million hill poverty-alleviation project, currently being implemented in three north-eastern states, has been hit by a major controversy over the resignation of three key officials last week and serious differences in the perception of the project management and its implementation process. Senior Finance and Accounts Officer Batsal Malla and Monitoring, Agri-Business and Extension Co-ordinator Dr. Shaheel Rofique have already put in their papers, while the Chief Natural Resource Management advisor, Dr Dhrupad Chowdhury, who is on deputation, has sought his release from the responsibility. While none of them wished to comment as to why they had decided to quit the project, insiders said they were unable to cope with the suffocating working environment and day- to-day bureaucratic interference of the North-Eastern Council (NEC), which runs contrary to the project's basic philosophy and approach