Lava (community development block)

Lava
Community development block
Coordinates: 27°07′N88°44′E / 27.12°N 88.73°E / 27.12; 88.73
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Kalimpong
Languages
• Official	Nepali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha constituency	Darjeeling
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kalimpong
Website	kalimpong.gov.in

Lava is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Kalimpong subdivision of the Kalimpong district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

In July 2021, the Kalimpong II CD block was broken up into two separate blocks named Lava and Pedong. The headquarter of the Lava CD block is at Algarah and the headquarter of the Pedong CD block is at Pedong. ^[1]

Geography

A little north of the erstwhile Darjeeling district, the snow-capped mountain range forms the main Himalayan mountain range.Ranges extending from the main Himalayas pass through Darjeeling district.To the northwest is the towering Kanchenjunga (8,579 m) and to the northeast is Dongkya (7,066 m).The Singalila Range slopes southwards from the Kanchenjunga to form the border between India and Nepal.Manebhanjung, Sandakphu and Falut are popular treks in this mountain.It forms the Darjeeling Hills west of the Teesta and extends south and southeast through other areas including Tonglu and Senchal.East of the Teesta, a high ridge extends to the south of Dongya and bifurcates at Gipmochi (3,511 m), creating two divides containing the Jaldhakar valley.The lower part of this hilly region forms the Kalimpong Hills.Four large mountain ranges spread out from a point on Ghum Hill.The first is the sleepy mountain range on the western side of the settlement; The second is the Senchal-Mahaldiram range, which slopes south towards Karsiong. Its highest point is Tiger Hill (2,595m) in East Senchel.The third, the Takdah or Takbu range, slopes north-eastwards to a point above the confluence of the Bara Rangit and the Teesta; The fourth is the Darjeeling Jalpahar range, which extends northwards towards Darjeeling. ^[2]

The lava block is part of the Kalimpong Ridge.Average altitude ranges from 300-3,000 meters above sea level. ^[3]

East Sikkim district of Sikkim state and Pedong block of Kalimpong district are on the north side of the lava block, Garubathan is on the east side and Kalimpong 1 block is on the west side. ^{[4] [5]}

The block has one Panchayat Samiti and 7 Gram Panchayats.It is under Jaldhaka Police Station. ^[6] Block Headquarters is located at Algarah. ^[7]

Gram panchayats in Lava CD block are: Dalapchand, Lolay, Gitdabling, lava-Gitabeong, Payong, Sangsay, and Shantook. ^[8]

References

1. "Kalimpong gets new block in Pedong". The Telegraph, 6 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
2. "District Gazeteer" (PDF). Pages 5-7 Physical aspects. District administration. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
3. "District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India" (PDF). Page 13: Physiography. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
4. "District Census Handbook, Darjeeling, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 Census of India" (PDF). Map of Darjeeling district on the fifth page. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
5. "Sikkim Tehsil Map". Maps of India. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
6. "Search a Police Station". Kalimpong Police. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
7. "District Census Handbook: Darjiling" (PDF). Map of District Darjiling with CD block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
8. "Kalimpong". District Profile. District administration. Retrieved 19 September 2024.