STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE
Siliguri/Kalimpong,
13 February
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee arrived in Kalimpong today.She landed at Bagdogra airport at 2.45 p.m. for a four-day tour to the Darjeeling Hills.

The hill town is gearing up for tomorrow as Miss Banerjee is set to announce separate Kalimpong district at Mela Ground.She will return to Kolkata on 16 February.

Following the announcement, Kalimpong will start to function as a district. It will commence with one sub-division, three blocks - Kalimpong-I,Kalimpong -II and Gorubathan Kalimpong municipality and three police stations.

It is learnt that Dr Viswanath,who is currently the additional district magistrate in Jalpaiguri,and Mr Ajit Yadav, who is in EFR, will be posted as the district magistrate and superintendent for new Kalimpong district respectively.

Notably, the state Cabinet had cleared the deck for creation of the district on 18 December, 2015.Political observers said the move could be a boost the ruling party ahead of the civic body, rural bodies and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) elections slated to be held in the Hills this year.

Two Padmashree awardees will be felicitated during the Mela Ground programme. According to the itinerary, after the official event, there will be a cultural programme on the same day. The chief minister will hold meeting with the functionaries of the Darjeeling Hills-based development boards,declared by the state government.