In an event that blended development with political discord, Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh on Friday, January 3, 2026, laid the foundation stones for four new public libraries across the city. The ambitious project, with a total estimated cost of Rs 1.49 crore, is aimed at fostering a reading culture and providing modern study spaces for residents.
Boosting Access to Knowledge in Key Sectors
The libraries are slated to be constructed in Sectors 77, 78, 79, and 80 of Mohali. Each facility will be built with an allocation of approximately Rs 35 lakh from the Punjab government's Municipal Development Fund. Addressing the media after the ceremony, MLA Kulwant Singh stated that the buildings are expected to be completed within a swift timeline of three to four months.
"Each library will feature a large hall equipped with all essential amenities," Singh explained. He emphasized the vision behind the project, noting that once operational, the libraries will be stocked with books, magazines, and newspapers. This initiative is designed to create communal spaces where people, especially students and youth, can gather to read and stay informed about global and national events.
A Showcase of Broader Government Initiatives
Beyond the library project, the MLA used the platform to highlight several key initiatives of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government. He announced a landmark Rs 10-lakh health insurance scheme set to be launched for all Punjab residents starting January 7, 2026. Singh claimed this to be a historic first for any state government in providing such extensive health coverage universally.
He also pointed to specific relief provided to residents of Sectors 76 to 80, where enhanced land prices have been reduced by Rs 1,116 per square yard. Reiterating other welfare measures, Singh mentioned the government's provision of 300 units of free electricity per household monthly and promised a comprehensive transformation of roads across the state in the near future.
Protocol Breach Sparks Political Controversy
The development-focused event, however, was quickly overshadowed by a political controversy concerning protocol. Municipal Councillor Harjit Singh Bholu expressed strong resentment over being excluded from the foundation stone-laying ceremony, particularly for libraries in Sectors 78 and 79, which fall within his electoral ward.
Bholu alleged that it was he who had originally proposed and got the library project approved and passed in the Municipal Corporation. "Despite this, I was not even invited to the foundation stone-laying ceremony," he stated. The councillor accused the ruling dispensation of undermining democratic norms by ignoring the elected local representative, turning a civic milestone into a point of political contention.
The incident highlights the often-tense interplay between local ward-level governance and state-level representatives, even on projects intended for public good.
