Kolkata: Three new districts of Asansol, Jhargram and Kalimpong will be created in West Bengal by April next year, chief minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday.

“Now that we have received the required approval from the Calcutta high court, process of creating the three new districts would start soon and we hope that by April 2017, the new districts will be inaugurated,” Ms Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat, Nabanna. With this, the number of districts in the state will go up to 23.

“Our officials would  soon start a recce. Chief secretary Basudeb Banerjee will head the team for Kalimpong, home secretary Moloy De will lead the team for Asansol and the team for Jhargram will be headed by DG Surajit Kar Purakayastha and Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar,” the CM said.

The government is yet to get the court’s approval for two more districts —Basirhat out of North 24 Parganas and Sunderbans with parts of North and South 24 Parganas.