Shillong, Nov 11 (IANS): Meghalaya on Wednesday got its 12th district -- Eastern West Khasi Hills -- with its headquarters in Mairang, which is one of the oldest civil sub-divisions inaugurated exactly 45 years ago.

Inaugurating the new district, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that the new district will bring administration closer to the people.

He said the creation of the new district is the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government's commitment to not only listen, but to the fulfil aspirations of its people.

This has been a long-awaited dream of the people of Mairang and Mawthadraishan, which would now be under the new district.

Mairang was bifurcated from its parent district of West Khasi Hills.

The Chief Minister said that Meghalaya is a matrilineal society, so the government felt that some linkage with the parent district should be incorporated.

"Hence the cabinet felt that since the region falls in the Eastern part of West Khasi Hills, we should name it as Eastern West Khasi Hills," Sangma said.

"The new district was formed not because it is in Khasi Hills or Jaintia Hills or Garo Hills, but entirely on the basis of certain parameters, which had put the region in the bottom list of all developmental activities," the Chief Minister pointed out.