Bisleri Partners with ASI for Heritage Water Conservation Through MoU.

In February 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Bisleri International Private Limited entered into a strategic collaboration by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Ministry of Culture (MoC), under the 'Adopt a Heritage 2.0 (AAH 2.0) Programme'.

      - The MoU was officially signed by Zulfeqar Ali, Director of ASI, and Angelo George, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bisleri International, followed by the formal exchange of the agreement between Yadubir Singh Rawat, Director General (DG) of ASI, and Angelo George.

      - The partnership, under ASI's 'AAH 2.0 Programme' and Bisleri's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative 'Nayi Umeed', begins with the adoption of four historic water bodies: Chand Baori in Abhaneri (Rajasthan), Baori at Neemrana (Rajasthan), Padma and Rani Talabs at Ranthambore Fort (Rajasthan), and Budha Budhi Pond at Kalinjar Fort (Uttar Pradesh, UP).

      - These water bodies will undergo restoration, including desilting, cleaning, ecological rejuvenation, and landscaping with minimal disruption to the historic sites. Informative signage will be installed to enhance visitor experience and community engagement. Through this collaboration, Bisleri aims to ensure the long-term preservation and improvement of India's heritage sites.

Main Point :-   (i) The 'Adopt A Heritage (AAH)' programme, launched in 2017, is a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Ministry of Culture (MoC), and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). In September 2023, a revamped version of the programme was introduced as 'AAH 2.0'.

      (ii) The initiative seeks to establish a framework for collaboration with public and private sector organizations, trusts, societies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and others, to create or enhance facilities at Protected Monuments using their CSR funds, with the aim of improving the visitor experience and making the adopted monuments more visitor-friendly.

(iii) The facilities under this program are categorized into four main areas: Hygiene, Accessibility, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) facility, and Knowledge. As of February 2025, 21 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between ASI and partnering entities across Delhi, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Tamil Nadu (TN), Odisha, Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka.