The Jalpaiguri district administration has readied a map of the proposed Dhupguri subdivision and has sent it to Nabanna along with certain other details.
On September 11, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Calcutta at a news meet formally announced that a new subdivision in Dhupguri — the third in Jalpaiguri district — would be made.
“Once I return from my foreign trip, I will take necessary initiatives in constituting the new Dhupguri subdivision,” she had said.
Her announcement came within nine days of Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul’s national general secretary, announcing that residents of Dhupguri would have a new subdivision by December 31 this year. A Dhupguri subdivision had been a longstanding demand.
It is believed that Abhishek’s announcement largely helped Trinamul wrest the Dhupguri Assembly seat from the BJP in the September 5 bypoll.
Mamata’s statement prompted the Jalpaiguri district administration to send a map of the proposed new subdivision to the state for consideration.
Jalpaiguri district magistrate Moumita Godara Basu confirmed it.
According to sources, the entire Dhupguri block comprising nine panchayats, a big chunk of Banarhat block with seven panchayats and Dhupguri civic area are on the map for the proposed Dhupguri subdivision.
“There are indications that soon after the chief minister’s return, the gazette notification for the subdivision would be issued,” said a source in the administration.
Along with the map, the administration has mentioned that the additional rooms in the Dhupguri BDO office can be used to open the SDO’s office.
“Also, there is adequate space in the building of the regulated market committee to set up the office of the SDO and the subdivisional police officer (SDPO). The market is located across a large area and there is ample parking space. These details have also been sent to the state for consideration and selection,” the source added.
Officials in the district administration said that primarily 10 employees would be required at the SDO’s office and another five would be needed at the SDPO’s office.
“In due course, additional staff can be posted in these offices,” an official said.
The administration’s initiatives have made several Banarhat block residents demand that the entire block and not just a part of it be included under the new subdivision.
As of now, both Banarhat and Dhupguri blocks are under Sadar subdivision.
“We want the entire Banarhat block to be under the new subdivision, and not just parts of it. Otherwise, problems for many of Banarhat residents won’t be resolved as we will still have to travel around 80km to reach the SDO’s office in Jalpaiguri,” said Sushil Chhetri, a resident of Chamurchi in Banarhat block.