Pidilite Industries Limited to Set Up ₹300 Crore Adhesives & Waterproofing Manufacturing Facility in Punjab: Sanjeev Arora

Chandigarh 7 January 2026:Punjab Cabinet Minister for Industry & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and NRI Affairs, Sh. Sanjeev Arora, today announced that Pidilite Industries Limited, a market leader in adhesives and construction chemicals, will set up a new manufacturing facility in Punjab with a proposed investment of ₹300 crore.

The proposed project will be located at Village Majri Faqiran and Village Sohne Majra, Sub-Tehsil Ghanaur, Rajpura, district Patiala and will be spread over approximately 31 acres of land.

Sh. Sanjeev Arora informed that the facility will focus on the mixing and blending of water-based adhesives and waterproofing products, with a total proposed capacity of 2,00,000 metric tonnes per annum, comprising 1,40,000 MT of water-based adhesives and 60,000 MT of waterproofing products. The unit will primarily cater to the domestic market, with scope for exports to neighbouring markets in the future.

Highlighting the employment potential, the Minister said that the project is expected to generate around 300 employment opportunities, including direct and indirect jobs across skilled, semi-skilled and supervisory categories. He added that the facility will be developed with modern process equipment, utilities and dedicated Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) systems, in line with best industry practices.

Established in 1969, Pidilite Industries Limited is a pioneer and market leader in consumer and specialty chemicals in India, with a strong presence in adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals, industrial resins, pigments and art & craft materials. Its flagship brand Fevicol is among the most trusted brands in the country.

Sh. Sanjeev Arora stated that the proposed Punjab facility is part of Pidilite’s strategy to strengthen its manufacturing footprint in North India and meet growing regional demand. The project will be financed entirely through internal accruals and is targeted to commence commercial production by December 2027.

The Minister further said that this significant investment once again underlines Punjab’s growing stature as a preferred destination for large-scale manufacturing, driven by robust industrial infrastructure, excellent connectivity, skilled manpower and a progressive, investor-friendly policy framework of the State Government.

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*Mann Govt Breaks Decades-Old Pattern as Punjab Performs First Liver Transplant in Govt Hospital*

*Under visionary leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is building institutions of excellence that bring world-class healthcare within reach of common citizens: Dr. Balbir Singh*

*Punjab enters new phase where public healthcare is defined by capability & commitment, not compromise*

CHANDIGARH, January 7:Punjab has crossed a decisive governance milestone by successfully conducting its first-ever liver transplant within the state, at the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS), SAS Nagar. For the first time since Independence, a Punjab government has ensured that one of the most complex and expensive life-saving medical procedures is available within a publicly funded state institution, not outsourced to metropolitan private hospitals.

This achievement is not an isolated medical event. It is a statement of intent. It reflects a clear break from decades of neglect where successive governments allowed critical tertiary healthcare to remain concentrated in Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai, forcing Punjab’s patients to bear crushing financial and emotional costs. Under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state has moved from dependence to capability.

*Public Healthcare as State Responsibility, Not Private Privilege*

The operationalisation of liver transplant services at PILBS underlines the Mann government’s approach to healthcare: build strong public institutions instead of pushing citizens towards private hospitals. Advanced care is no longer treated as a privilege for the wealthy, but as a responsibility of the state.

Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, “Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is building institutions of excellence that bring world-class healthcare within reach of the common citizen. The successful liver transplant at PILBS is a historic step, ensuring that people of Punjab no longer need to travel outside the state for advanced liver care.”

*Punjab’s Reality Forced This Governance Choice*

Punjab carries one of the heaviest liver disease burdens in the country. Hepatitis C prevalence ranges from 0.56 % to as high as 3.6 %, compared to a national average of around 0.3 %, translating to an estimated 1.5 to 10 lakh affected individuals. Hepatitis B prevalence stands at approximately 1 to 1.5 %. Alcohol-related liver disease accounts for over 40 % of cirrhosis cases nationally, and Punjab’s higher alcohol consumption rates compound this risk.

For years, this public health crisis was met with indifference. Patients were pushed out of state, families were pushed into debt, and government hospitals remained structurally unprepared. The Mann government chose to intervene where earlier regimes chose to look away.

*Ending Forced Medical Migration*

Before this initiative, liver transplant patients from Punjab had no real choice but to seek treatment in distant metropolitan centres. This imposed massive out-of-pocket expenditure, long waiting periods, loss of livelihoods, and separation from family support systems. In practice, this meant that liver transplantation remained inaccessible to middle- and lower-income families.

By enabling liver transplants at PILBS, the Punjab government has closed a long-standing access gap and restored dignity to patients who were previously priced out of survival.

*PILBS as a Public-Sector Statement*

PILBS has been developed as a specialised centre for liver and biliary diseases, offering advanced hepatology, gastroenterology, diagnostics, critical care, hepato-biliary surgery, transplant services, and post-transplant follow-up under one roof. The successful transplant proves that these systems are not symbolic but fully operational and clinically integrated.

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*Bhagwant Singh Mann Govt ends four-decade irrigation drought in Kandi belt, canal water reaches tail-end farms*

*Kandi area gets irrigation lifeline as ₹ 238.90 crore canal revamp is completed; Project irrigating 1.25 lakh acres across 433 villages of Kandi area*

*Bhagwant Singh Mann Govt strengthens canal network to secure farmers’ future in Kandi region: Barinder Kumar Goyal*

*Bhagwant Singh Mann Govt invests over ₹ 4,557 crore in canal irrigation, 2.5 times more than previous dispensations: Barinder Kumar Goyal*

CHANDIGARH, 7th January 2026:Ending a four-decade-long irrigation drought in Punjab’s Kandi belt, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has successfully restored canal water supply to tail-end farms, bringing long-awaited relief to farmers in the hilly and drought-prone region. With the completion of a ₹238.90 crore revamp of the Kandi Canal system, canal irrigation has now reached 433 villages and is covering 1.25 lakh acres of agricultural land across the Kandi area, marking a decisive turnaround in Punjab’s irrigation landscape.

Sharing details of the achievement, Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the Mann government has made irrigation revival a governance priority and backed it with unprecedented financial commitment. “From 2022 to 2025, the Punjab government has invested over ₹4,557 crore in canal irrigation, which is nearly two-and-a-half times more than the ₹2,046 crore spent by the previous Congress government between 2019 and 2022,” he added.

Highlighting the impact on farmers, the Water Resources and Soil & Water Conservation Minister said that the results are now visible on the ground. “In numerous areas, farmers who had abandoned hope are now receiving canal water after nearly 40 years,” he said.

He explained that the Kandi Canal network, with a carrying capacity of 463 cusecs and a total length of 129.035 kilometres from Talwara to Balachaur, had suffered severe deterioration over the years. He said that although construction from Talwara to Hoshiarpur was completed in 1998 and Stage-2 from Hoshiarpur to Balachaur in 2016, widespread leakage and seepage had prevented water from reaching tail-end areas. “The Bhagwant Singh Mann government prioritised this long-pending issue and invested ₹238.90 crore to ensure that canal water now flows from Talwara to Balachaur, reaching the furthest points after nearly four decades,” he said.

Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal stated that the revived canal system is now benefiting 433 villages across Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts and irrigating 1.25 lakh acres of agricultural land in Dasuya, Mukerian, Tanda-Urmar, Sham Churasi, Hoshiarpur, Chabbewal, Garhshankar and Balachaur.

Detailing the works undertaken under Kandi Canal Stage-1, the Minister said, “Concrete lining from Talwara to Hoshiarpur has been completed at a cost of ₹120 crore.” He added that to further optimize canal performance, the government restored earthen watercourses and rejuvenated 11 distributaries spanning 61 kilometres, benefiting 203 villages in Hoshiarpur district and covering 28,500 acres. He also informed that a ₹58.78 crore underground pipeline distribution project covering 417.52 kilometres is scheduled to be completed this month.

Referring to Kandi Canal Stage-2 between Hoshiarpur and Balachaur, Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said that six flow distributaries extending approximately 42 kilometres have been restored. “These works are providing irrigation facilities to 72 villages across Hoshiarpur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts and covering 18,800 acres of agricultural land,” he said.

The Minister further revealed that five previously deteriorated lift schemes on the canal, designed to provide water to elevated areas, have been completely overhauled at a cost of ₹34 crore, including their distribution systems. “These revitalised lift schemes are now serving 38 villages and irrigating around 11,576 acres of land that was earlier dependent entirely on rainfall,” he said.

Highlighting new initiatives, Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the Bhagwant Singh Mann government has also installed five new lift schemes at a cost of ₹11.62 crore, irrigating an additional 1,500 acres. He added that to raise groundwater levels, recharge structures have been constructed over five defunct government tubewells at a cost of ₹20 lakh, while 24 ponds have been developed with an expenditure of ₹5.16 crore and are being periodically replenished with canal water.

In a significant environmental intervention, the Minister said that 18 seasonal streams, or choes, have been connected to the canal network at a cost of ₹4.18 crore, allowing controlled release of canal water to enhance groundwater recharge. He also underlined that canal water is now being supplied to industrial units. “This step is reducing groundwater extraction while also generating supplementary revenue for the state,” he said.

Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal further said that 13 low-earthen dams on various streams in Hoshiarpur and S.A.S. Nagar districts have been restored after underground pipe distribution systems had deteriorated over time. “The government has invested ₹11.50 crore to revive these systems,” he said.

Referring to future works, the Minister said that the Kathgarh lift scheme is being executed in three phases. He said, “Phase one will be operational next month and will provide canal water to about 5,000 acres in villages including Kathgarh, Malewal, Baghowal, Paniali Kalan, Paniali Khurd, Surapur, Chahal, Sudha Majra, Kamalpur, Tandoh and Bachwan.” He added that phase two and phase three will be made operational next year and will extend irrigation facilities to an additional 9,000 acres in villages such as Kolar, Balowal, Saunkri, Sudha Majra, Majra Jattan and Taunsa.

He also said that the department is systematically replacing deep tubewells with lift irrigation schemes to supply canal water to areas that were earlier dependent on groundwater. “This approach will significantly reduce pressure on Punjab’s fast-depleting groundwater resources,” Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said.

With canal water finally reaching the tail-end of the Kandi belt after four decades, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has delivered a long-overdue correction in Punjab’s irrigation system, reinforcing its commitment to farmers, water security and sustainable agriculture.

This is a direct outcome of political prioritisation. Complex tertiary care does not emerge accidentally; it requires sustained funding, administrative backing, and the resolve to strengthen government institutions rather than hollow them out.

*Beyond One Surgery*

The first liver transplant marks Punjab’s formal entry into advanced organ transplant care. It reduces dependence on out-of-state hospitals, anchors tertiary healthcare within the public system, and lays the groundwork for higher transplant volumes, in-state medical training, and a structured referral network across districts.

The programme is expected to reinforce ongoing Hepatitis B and C elimination efforts, enable earlier detection of liver disease, and significantly reduce preventable deaths from advanced liver conditions.

*Governance with Consequence*

With this achievement, Punjab has demonstrated that public healthcare can deliver outcomes typically associated with elite private hospitals, when backed by political will. The Mann government has shown that strengthening state capacity is not rhetoric but execution.

By bringing liver transplantation into a government hospital, Punjab has not only saved lives but also redefined what citizens can expect from their government.

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*Punjab Government Strengthens Nutrition & ECCE Initiatives — Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*State-Level Nutrition Awareness and Capacity Building Programme Held at Malout — Dr. Baljit Kaur*

*‘Poshan Vi Padhai Vi’ Tier-2 Training to Strengthen Holistic Child Development — Dr. Baljit*

Chandigarh/Malout, January 7:With a strong focus on the holistic development of children, the Punjab Government is implementing large-scale capacity building and awareness programmes at the state level under Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the Nutrition Mission, aimed at strengthening nutrition, health and foundational learning outcomes.

In this series, a State-Level Nutrition Awareness and Capacity Building Programme was organised today at Malout under the Nutrition Mission, in which Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, participated as the Chief Guest. The programme was organised under the “Poshan Vi Padhai Vi” Tier-2, Phase-2 training initiative, with the objective of enhancing the capacity of grassroots-level functionaries and ensuring effective implementation of nutrition-related schemes.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government is giving special priority to the Women and Child Development sector. She informed that 5,000 Anganwadi workers have already been recruited, while 6,000 more Anganwadi workers and helpers will be recruited in the coming days. She further stated that 1,000 Anganwadi centres have been modernised, and basic facilities are being provided at every centre so that these centres function at par with schools and children face no inconvenience.

The Minister emphasised that strengthening maternal and child health, nutrition and early education remains a top priority of the State Government. She highlighted that nutrition and ECCE are closely interlinked, as meaningful learning and overall development of children is not possible without proper nutrition.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further stated that the Nutrition Mission is a multi-departmental initiative, involving coordinated efforts of the Health, Women and Child Development, Education, Drinking Water and Sanitation departments. She underlined the crucial role of Anganwadi workers and frontline staff, stating that continuous training and capacity building are essential to ensure that benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

She added that under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is fully committed to the holistic development of children. The government is taking policy-level and field-level initiatives to ensure quality nutrition, health and early education, thereby laying a strong foundation for a healthy and progressive Punjab.

To further strengthen ECCE, the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development is implementing a comprehensive state-level training campaign for Anganwadi supervisors and workers, in line with the National Education Policy and early childhood education frameworks. The focus is on play-based, child-centric and age-appropriate learning for children aged 3 to 6 years.

For effective training delivery, the cascade training model has been adopted, under which state-level master trainers train district- and block-level Anganwadi workers. Special emphasis is being laid on weekly play-based calendars, daily schedules, observation-based assessment tools and the Aadharshila Curriculum (2024) to strengthen foundational learning and numeracy skills.

Senior officers from various departments, district and block-level officials, subject experts and field-level functionaries participated in the programme. The training sessions focused on implementation of nutrition and ECCE initiatives, data-based monitoring, behaviour change communication, community awareness, and addressing grassroots-level challenges.

Officials informed that similar training and awareness programmes are being organised in a phased manner across all districts of the state, with the objective of achieving nutrition, health and foundational education targets for mothers and children within the stipulated timeframe.

The programme concluded with a collective resolve to further strengthen inter-departmental coordination for the holistic development of mothers and children and to contribute towards building a healthy and developed Punjab.

Among those present were Shri Amarjit Singh Bhullar, Deputy Director, Social Security Department; Dr. Urvashi, Joint Advisor (PDC); Ms. Ratandeep Kaur Sandhu; Ms. Rajwant Kaur, CDPO Malout; PA Shri Arshdeep Singh; Gagandeep Singh Aulakh; Love Batra; and Shamsher Singh, along with officers and staff from various departments.

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*SC COMMISSION SUMMONS PATIALA SP AND DSP CITY-1 IN SEPARATE CASES*

*DSP CITY-1 SUMMONED OVER POLICE INACTION IN MURDER CASE*

*Chandigarh, January 7:*The Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has summoned the Superintendent of Police and the DSP City-1 of Patiala district in two separate matters pertaining to police inaction in cases involving Scheduled Caste complainants.

Sharing details, Chairman of the Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission S. Jasvir Singh Garhi said that Ram Prashad (70) son of Shri Vasudev resident of village Balbera tehsil and district Patiala had approached the Commission with a complaint. He informed that his son Gurtej Singh who was employed at a shop left for work on December 13, 2025 and later around 11 am the family received a phone call conveying the news of his death. The police shifted the body to the mortuary but the Civil Lines Police Station Patiala ignored the family’s complaint and initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC directing them to conduct the last rites.

He further said that when the family was allowed to see the body it was found to be badly burnt which raised serious questions about the circumstances of death.

The Chairman stated that despite clear directions issued by the Commission to the Patiala Police no concrete action has been taken so far. Consequently, DSP City-1 Patiala Satnam Singh has been directed to appear before the Commission on January 14, 2026 to explain the lapse.

The Chairman further informed that in another case relating to Sukhdeep Kaur wife of Sukhwinder Singh resident of Dhammu Majra (Patiala), no action has been taken on a complaint against Inspector Baljit Singh despite repeated instructions of the Commission. In this case, SP Swaranjit Kaur of the Punjab Bureau of Investigation Patiala has also been summoned to appear before the Commission on January 14, 2026.

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More than 1000 workers regularized during past few months: Lal Chand Kataruchak

Forests & Wildlife Preservation Minister meets Janglat Workers Union

Catering to workers’ interests top priority of State Government

Chandigarh, January 7:The Forests and Wildife Preservation Department has regularized the services of more than 1000 employees during the past 7 months and a proposal has been sent to the Finance Department (FD), Personnel and Legal Remebrancer (LR) to regularize another 519 senior workers, as per the policy rolled out in the year 2023, who do not fulfil age & education qualifications but who have completed 10 years of service.

Guided by the vision of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the department stands fully committed to undertake every step in order to benefit the workers. This was stated today by the Forest and Wildlife Preservation Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak while meeting representatives of the Janglat Workers Union at Forest Complex.

Regarding the demand of the union representatives to release salaries of the workers given appointment letters on July 30th last year, the Minister was apprised by the senior officers of the department that the Integrated Human Resource Management System (IHRMS) Ids have been updated in this regard and the salaries would be released soon. The Minister also directed the officers to ensure timely release and disbursal of the workers to ensure that they do not suffer financially.

The Minister while giving a patient hearing to the various other demands of the union, assured that taking care of the interests of the workers of the department is top priority with the government as the workers are inalienable part of the department.

Among others present on the occasion included the Secretary Forests and Wildlife Preservation Department Priyank Bharti, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Dharminder Sharma, and CCF (Plains) Nidhi Srivastava.