In a  move towards sustainable water conservation, Punjab Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kuantum Papers Limited — a Hoshiarpur-based paper company.
 
The agreement, formalized between the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Punjab, and Kuantum Papers Limited, marks an effort to involve the private sector in the state's water management endeavours.
 
The MoU signing ceremony, held in the presence of the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra, emphasized the state government’s commitment to preserve natural resources.
 
Jauramajra described the collaboration with the private sector as a groundbreaking initiative, noting that it will facilitate financial and operational support for the state's water conservation projects.
 
Expressing his enthusiasm for this unique initiative, Jauramajra highlighted its potential to enhance the private sector’s role in Punjab’s water conservation efforts. He stated, “This partnership will significantly boost the government’s water conservation programs and set the stage for future public-private collaborations.”
 
Under the MoU, Kuantum Papers Limited will provide funding for both new and ongoing water conservation projects through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds or specifically allocated funds. The funded initiatives include the construction of check dams, implementation of efficient irrigation systems, and the utilization of treated water.
 
Established in 1979-80, Kuantum Papers Limited stands as a major paper manufacturing unit in Sailakhurd village in Hoshiarpur district. Company's director Drishinder Singh Sandhawalia expressed the company’s commitment to a long-term partnership with the Punjab Government, pledging investments in various government-led water conservation initiatives.
 
During the event, Punjab’s Special Chief Secretary, Soil and Water Conservation, KAP Sinha urged the Department to devise innovative and efficient techniques for water conservation in the agriculture sector.
 
Given the precarious groundwater situation, with nearly 80 per cent of the state's area under the over-exploited category, this collaboration aims to address the urgent need for sustainable water management to avoid depletion of this vital natural resource.