Mamata to inaugurate full-fledged Kalimpong district on 21 Sept

SNS, Kolkata, 8 September 2016: Kalimpong will start functioning as a full-fledged district from 21 September. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be making the announcement in this regard the same day during her forthcoming north Bengal trip.

Miss Banerjee is scheduled to leave for north Bengal on 20 September. The next day, at a public gathering in Kalimpong sub-division, Miss Banerjee will announce that Kalimpong will start functioning as a new district from that day onwards.

Miss Banerjee had announced last year that Kalimpong would be upgraded as a full-fledged district and steps were initiated for identifying land for accommodating the offices of various departments.

However, delay in receiving permissions from the court has held up the process of upgrading the sub-division into a district. An official said that requisite permissions have been sought from the court.

"Section VII of CrPC mentions that decisions relating to setting up of new new districts have to be taken in consultation with the High Court. The consultation process is also underway,"he said.

It is expected that the court permission will reach the state government within the next few days, paving the way for Kalimpong to function as a district. Miss Banerjee is also likely to inaugurate the development boards of the Hill communities that she had announced in her earlier trip at a programme in Darjeeling. She would put up at Richmond Hills and return to Kolkata on 22 September. (Mukesh Sharma)