The Sikkim Krantitakri Morcha government has created two new districts, Soreng and Pakyong, by carving out West and East districts, respectively, thus taking the total number of districts in the landlocked Himalayan state from four to six.

In a notification issued late Tuesday, Sikkim’s land revenue and disaster management department said the two new districts were being created in accordance with the The Sikkim (re-Organization of District) Act, 2021 and it would come into force from the date of the issuance of the notification.

Along with the creation of the two districts, the existing four districts have also undergone changes in their names with East district being re-christened as Gangtok district, West as Gyalshing, North as Mangan and South as Namchi.

While tabling the Bill for the creation of the two new districts in the Assembly earlier in the month, the SKM government had said the objective was to further strengthen governance and administration in the state. “With the growing population and aspirations, new challenges have emerged for better service delivery at the district level,” it had said. The bill was unanimously passed by the House and subsequently received the assent of governor Ganga Prasad.

Aditya Golay and Em Prasad Sharma, the SKM MLAs from Soreng-Chakung and Namcheybung constituencies, have hailed the upgrade of Soreng and Pakyong subdivisions into districts and thanked chief minister P. S. Tamang (Golay) for delivering on the party’s poll promise. Pakyong falls under Namcheybung Assembly constituency.

“Soreng becoming a district is a big achievement for us and the state government. However, government alone cannot bring developmental changes. We need public support and co-operation to make Soreng a model district as it is the duty of everyone to uplift the area and the society,” said Aditya, who is the son of the chief minister.

Sharma, on his part, said once Pakyong district started functioning, it would not only benefit the local residents but would also ease the burden on Gangtok. “We will work unitedly in making Pakyong a model district,” he said.

Soreng district has been carved out from the previous West district, and will have two subdivisions — Mangalbarey and Soreng. Mangalbarey will have four revenue circles in Rinchenpong, Kaluk, Mangalbaria, and Kamling. Soreng subdivision, on the other hand, will have seven revenue circles: Arubotey, Chakung, Zoom, Soreng, Okhrey, Dodak and Sombaria.

Soreng district will extend from the Rangit river and Chubbatti khola in the east to the Rammam river and Indo-Nepal border in the west, Rangsang khola and Rhododendron Sanctuary in the north to the Rammam river in the south.

Pakyong district will include three subdivisions: Pakyong, Rongli and Rangpo.

Pakyong will have six revenue circles, including Pakyong, Dikling-Pacheykhani, Aho-Senti, Tareythang Bering, Machong and Amba-Taza. The three revenue circles in Rongli are Rongli, Subaneydara and Rhenock, and the two Rangpo revenue circles are Duga and West Pandam.

The geographical area of Pakyong district will extend from the Reserve forest near the Bhutan border in the east to the Teesta river and Rani khola in the west, and from Tak Chen Chu river in the north to Reshi khola and Rangpo khola in the south.