MUKESH SHARMA

Kalimpong,14 February
After 151 years as part of Darjeeling district Kalimpong today emerged as a district in its own right, amidst scenes of jubilation.

At 2.15 pm this afternoon, Darjeeling district magistrate Anurag Srivastav read out the notification creating a new Kalimpong district at the jam-packed mela ground, and after that presented the first district magistrate and superintendent of police of the new district .

Dr Viswanat and Ajeet Kumar Yadaw will be the new DM and SP Kalimpong respectively.

State principal secretary Basudev Banerjee,giving the welcome address said that the Mamata Banerjee government is in favour of creating new districts for better governance and public convenience.
He added that two more districts will come up soon in the state.Congratulating the people of Kalimpong he said it has taken some time but today a long-standing dream of the people has come true.

The one-hour programme saw felicitation of Padmashri Sonam Tshering Lepcha, Man Ghising, Bharati Tamang, ex-captain of the Indian hockey team Bharat Chhetri, Commissioner of Police of Siliguri Police CS Lepcha, and singer Deepa Udit Narayan Jha. Five journalists and members of the state Press Accreditation Committee were also felicitated by the CM. 

The programme saw performances by Indian Idol runners-up Amit Paul and Abhishek Kumar. A colourful programme concluded the day.

Kalimpong people celebrated the new district from afternoon till late in the night. It was Diwali night in Kalimpong tonight, with Trinamul Congress and Jan Andolan Party letting off fire works.

Hundreds sang and danced at the mela ground. 

Rebu Lecpha who had come to witness the programme said she was very happy. "We want development,"she said.

Shanta Chhetri. ex-MLA and TMC leader from Kurseong said,“This is a historic day for the people of Kalimpong. This day will be written with a golden pen. The dreams of Kalimpong have come true today."

She said the Left Front government did nothing for the people of the Hills but the Mamata Banerjee government has laid focus on all-round development”