West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that a new district, Kalimpong, will be carved out of Darjeeling, PTI reported. The new district will be the state’s 21st. Several violent statehood movements have emerged from the region over the years.
“I urge all people in the hills to live peacefully and not pay heed to any attempt of igniting violence,” Banerjee told the gathering. She announced several development projects including an estimated Rs 220-crore road link project between the new district and Sikkim “via the old Silk Route”. The chief minister also announced a water supply project, estimated to cost Rs 50 crore, to address scarcity problems.
“We will ensure all-round development of the hills. We are celebrating Kalimpong Day on Valentine’s Day,” she said.
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