Alipurduar district

Alipurduar District
আলিপুরদুয়ার জেলা
District of West Bengal
Alipurduar District

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 26°29′N 89°34′E / 26.48°N 89.57°E / 26.48; 89.57Coordinates: 26°29′N 89°34′E / 26.48°N 89.57°E / 26.48; 89.57
Country  India
State West Bengal
Headquarters

Alipurduar

  • D.M.- Devi Prasad Karanam, I.A.S.
  • S.P.- Mr Rabindranath Abharu
Area
 • Total 3,383 km2 (1,306 sq mi)
Population (census 2011 of India)
 • Total Almost 17 lakh
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
ISO 3166 code ISO 3166-2:IN
Website Official website

Alipurduar District is the 20th district in the state of West Bengal, India.[1] It consists of Alipurduar municipality, Falakata municipality and six community development blocks: Madarihat–Birpara, Alipurduar–I, Alipurduar–II, Falakata, Kalchini and Kumargram. The six blocks contain 66 gram panchayats and nine census towns. The district has its headquarters at Alipurduar. It was made a district on 25 June 2014.[2]

Alipurduar, the second largest sub-division during British rule was created on 7 July 1876. The late Colonel Hedayet Ali Khan was the first assistant commissioner of Alipurduar and it was named after him.[3] In independent India, Alipurduar earned reputation as one of the largest sub-divisions of the country. Alipurduar was an outlying sub-division of Jalpaiguri district. However, since the sub-division was nearly 100 km from Jalpaiguri, the position of sub-divisional officer/sub-divisional magistrate gained prominence with the SDO office catering to the diverse needs of the people of the sub-division. Post independence, the first SDO of Alipurduar was GD Goswami. The sub-division became the first independent posting of many IAS officers of West Bengal Cadre.

The demand for separate district of Alipurduar arose from the feeling of alienation felt by the people of Alipurduar who felt that they were being neglected by the government and the district administration. The huge distance between many areas of Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri town, the district headquarters, had been a constant source of irritation, expense and inconvenience for the people of Alipurduar.[4] Alipurduar sub division was as large as the other two sub divisions of Jalpaiguri district (in geographical area and population)[5] which added fuel to the demand for separation of Alipurduar sub division from Jalpaiguri district.

Alipurduar was bifurcated from Jalpaiguri district and made a separate district on 25 June 2014.[2] On this day, Shri Nikhil Nirmal IAS became the last SDO and SDM of erstwhile Alipurduar sub division[6] while Alice Vaz R IAS became the first district magistrate of Alipurduar District.[7] Vaz had served as SDO Alipurudar in her first independent posting during 2007. The decision to make Alipurudar a separate district was welcomed from all corners since it would pave the way for better governance and inclusive growth.[4]

Area

Apart from the Alipurduar municipality, the district contains nine census towns and rural areas of 66 gram panchayats under six community development blocks: Madarihat–Birpara, Alipurduar–I, Alipurduar–II, Falakata, Kalchini and Kumargram.[8]

The nine census towns are Paschim Jitpur, Chechakhata, Alipurduar Railway Junction, Bholar Dabri, Sobhaganj, Falakata, Jaygaon and Uttar Latabari and Uttar Kamakhyaguri.[9]

Blocks

Madarihat–Birpara block

Rural area under Madarihat–Birpara block consists of ten gram panchayats, viz. Bandapani, Hantapara, Madarihat, Totopara Ballalguri, Birpara–I, Khayarbari, Rangalibajna, Birpara–II, Lankapara and Shishujhumra.[8] There is no urban area under this block.[9] Madarihat and Birpara police stations serve this block.[10] Headquarters of this block is in Madarihat.[11]

Alipurduar–I block

Rural area under Alipurduar–I block consists of 11 gram panchayats, viz. Banchukamari, Parorpar, Shalkumar–I, Vivekananda–I, Chakowakheti, Patlakhawa, Shalkumar–II, Vivekananda–II, Mathura, Purba Kanthalbari and Tapsikhata.[8] Urban area under this block consists of four census towns: Paschim Jitpur, Chechakhata, Alipurduar Railway Junction and Bholar Dabri.[9] Alipurduar police station serves this block.[10] Headquarters of this block is in Panchkalguri.[11]

Alipurduar–II block

Rural area under Alipurduar–II block consists of 11 gram panchayats, viz. Chaporer Par–I, Mahakalguri, Shamuktala, Turturi, Chaparerpar–II, Majherdabri, Tatpara–I, Bhatibari, Kohinoor, Parokata and Tatpara–II.[8] Urban area under this block consists of one census town: Sobhaganj.[9] Samuktala police station serves this block.[10] Headquarters of this block is in Josodanga.

Falakata block

Rural area under Falakata block consists of 12 gram panchayats, viz. Dalgaon, Dhanirampur–II, Guabarnagar, Mairadanga, Deogaon, Falakata–I, Jateswar–I, Parangerpar, Dhanirampur–I, Falakata–II, Jateswar–II and Shalkumar.[8] Urban area under this block consists of one municipality: Falakata.[9] Falakata police station serves this block.[10] Headquarters of this block is in Falakata.[11]

Kalchini block

Rural area under Kalchini block consists of 11 gram panchayats, viz. Jaigaon–I, Jaigaon–II, Dalshing Para, Malangi, Satali, Mendabari, Latabari, Chuapara, Kalchini, Garopara and Rajabhatkawa.[8] Urban area under this block consists of two census towns: Jaigaon and Uttar Latabari.[9] Jaigaon and Kalchini police stations serve this block.[10] Headquarters of this block is in Hamiltanganj.

Kumargram block

Rural area under Kumargram block consists of 11 gram panchayats, viz. Chengamari, Khoardanga–I, Newland Kumargram Sankos, Turturikhanda, Kamakhyaguri–I, Khoardanga–II, Valka Barabisa–I, Kamakhyaguri–II, Kumargram, Raidak, Valka Barabisa–II.[8] Urban area under this block consists of one census town: Uttar Kamakhyaguri.[9] Kumargram police station serves this block.[10] Headquarters of this block is in Kumargram.[11]

Railway network

Alipurduar railway division has at least 710 km of railway track. It is the largest division of the NFR zone. In Alipurduar district there are two major stations, Alipurduar junction(APDJ) and New Alipurduar(NOQ). There are other stations in the district.

Legislative segments

As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the area under Kumargram block and seven gram panchayats under Alipurduar–II block, viz. Bhatibari, Kohinoor, Parokata, Mahakalguri, Shamuktala, Turturi and Tatpara–I will constitute the Kumargram assembly constituency of West Bengal. The Majherdabri gram panchayat under Alipurduar–II block and the area under Kalchini block will constitute the Kalchini assembly constituency. The Alipurduar municipality, the Alipurduar Railway Junction census town, and the gram panchayats of Chaporer Par–I, Chaporer Par–II and Tatpara–II under Alipurduar–II block and ten gram panchayats of Alipurduar–I block, viz. Banchukamari, Parorpar, Shalkumar–I, Vivekananda–I, Chakowakheti, Patlakhawa, Shalkumar–II, Vivekananda–II, Mathura and Tapsikhata will form the Alipurduars assembly constituency. The other gram panchayat of Alipurduar–I block, viz. Purba Kanthalbari will form the Falakata assembly constituency along with the area under Falakata block. Madarihat block will be part of Madarihat assembly constituency. Kumargram, Kalchini and Madarihat constituencies will be reserved for Scheduled tribes (ST) candidates. Falakata constituency will be reserved for Scheduled castes (SC) candidates. All these five assembly constituencies will be part of Alipurduars (Lok Sabha constituency), which will be reserved for ST candidates.[12]

Visitor attractions

Jayanti Hills
Buxa Fort
An elephant safari through the Jaldapara Sanctuary
Hill Down View Of Jaigaon

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Alipurduar-a-new-district-on-June-25/articleshow/36916065.cms
  2. 1 2 http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/alipurduar-becomes-bengal-s-20th-district-114062500725_1.html
  3. ↑ http://www.alipurduar.org/district-profile/
  4. 1 2 http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/district-no-20/article6189575.ece
  5. ↑ http://jalpaiguri.gov.in/html/disprof.html
  6. ↑ http://wbpar.gov.in/writereaddata/No%201517-PAR(IAS)%20issued%20on%2022.08.2013.pdf
  7. ↑ http://wbpar.gov.in/writereaddata/1151-PAR(IAS).pdf
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008". West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "District Wise List of Statutory Towns (Municipal Corporation, Municipality,Notified Area and Cantonment Board), Census Towns and Outgrowths, West Bengal, 2001". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "List of Districts/C.D.Blocks/ Police Stations with Code No., Number of G.Ps and Number of Mouzas". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2008.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Contact details of Block Development Officers". Jalpaiguri district. Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  12. ↑ "Press Note, Delimitation Commission" (PDF). Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. pp. 4–5, 23. Retrieved 10 January 2009.
  Bhutan
Jalpaiguri district Kokrajhar district, Assam
   Alipurduar district  
Cooch Behar district Dhubri district, Assam
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