Ahead of the municipal polls in Darjeeling Hills Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday formally declared Mirik a much-visited tourist attraction as a new Sub-division.
About 50 kms from Darjeeling Mirik is cherished for its lake, tall mountains and rich flora and fauna.
“We are committed towards the development of Darjeeling Hills,” Banerjee said “giving new birth to Mirik as a sub-division so that the people will not have to travel to Darjeeling of other places for small works.”
Banerjee had announced the creation of a new Kalimpong district last year much to the chagrin of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha which accused the Chief Minister of “playing divisive politics in the Hills.”
Municipal elections will be held in the month of May in four sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong, Kalimpong and Mirik.
“Civic elections will be held soon. Panchayat and GTA elections will also be conducted this year. There is peace in the hills now and we want the entire election process to be carried out in a democratic manner,” Banerjee said adding “people of Darjeeling want peace and development and not violence. It is our responsibility to ensure peace and democracy in the area,” she said.
