MAM
Sip happens Ayodhya gets its first taste of smart water access
MUMBAI: Why carry a bottle when Ayodhya now pours clean, cold water on tap? In a move that’s part hydration, part transformation, Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, in partnership with SM Sehgal Foundation and Ayodhya Nagar Nigam, has turned up the public health dial with the installation of community water ATMs across key areas of the city. The initiative puts reliable, RO-purified drinking water at the fingertips of residents and pilgrims alike no app required.
Each ATM is connected to the Nagar Nigam’s municipal supply and backed by overhead storage tanks. The water is filtered through a Reverse Osmosis system, stored in stainless steel chilled tanks, and dispensed via hygienic external taps. The result? Round-the-clock, walk-up access to clean, cool water in one of India’s most spiritual and frequently visited cities.
The Coca-Cola India Foundation director Rajiv Gupta said, “Access to drinking water is a fundamental pillar of public health and community well-being. Our partnership with Ayodhya Nagar Nigam and the SM Sehgal Foundation is a strategic initiative that demonstrates our commitment to help improving water accessibility in the region through better infrastructure and local collaboration.”
S M Sehgal Foundation trustee and CEO Anjali Makhija said, “Water is vital, and through our collaboration with Anandana, The Coca-Cola India Foundation, we help create solutions for communities. The installation of water ATMs in Ayodhya marks a significant step towards ensuring access to hydration, especially in a city that welcomes millions of pilgrims and visitors each year.”
Ayodhya Nagar Nigam Municipal commissioner Santosh Sharma said, “This initiative underscores the positive role of public-private partnerships in enhancing urban infrastructure. Together with Coca-Cola India Foundation, we’re addressing the need for reliable drinking water across key areas in Ayodhya, benefiting both residents and visitors. By strengthening the city’s water access, this effort is a crucial part of our broader commitment to improving civic amenities and ensuring a sustainable, community-centered development.”
The effort is part of a broader Coca-Cola India Foundation strategy that’s already impacted over one million lives. Through Project Jaldhara, the Foundation in collaboration with SM Sehgal Foundation has led water conservation efforts across Kolar (Karnataka), Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh), and Aurangabad (Maharashtra). Their interventions range from check dam construction and tank desilting to decentralised water systems, designed to fight water stress from the grassroots up.
Ayodhya now becomes the next ripple in that wave. As India heats up and demand for public hydration rises, these ATMs offer more than a moment of relief, they’re a blueprint for civic innovation.
Because in today’s world, a sip well-served is a civic duty well done.
Brands
ZEEL transfers syndication business, invests Rs 505 crore in IP push
Restructuring, stake buy and FCCB moves signal sharper content strategy
MUMBAI: In the content economy, owning the story is half the battle monetising it is the real game, and Zee Entertainment Enterprises is doubling down on both. The company has approved the transfer of its syndication and content licensing business to its wholly owned subsidiary ZI-IPR Enterprises, alongside an investment of Rs 505 crore aimed at strengthening its play in content intellectual property (IP) acquisition, management and monetisation. The move, effective April 1, 2026, will see the business transferred on a slump sale basis at book value, including all associated assets, liabilities and commercial rights effectively consolidating IP operations under a more focused structure.
At its core, the restructuring signals a strategic shift. As content consumption increasingly fragments across digital and global platforms, the value of IP lies not just in creation but in how efficiently it can be distributed, repackaged and monetised across markets. By housing its syndication engine within ZI-IPR Enterprises, ZEEL appears to be building a more agile and scalable ecosystem, one that can better extract value from its vast content library while adapting to evolving distribution models.
But the company’s ambitions are not limited to restructuring. ZEEL has also approved an investment of up to Rs 20.09 crore in Culture of Real Experiences (CORE), acquiring a 51 per cent stake in the entity. The move expands its footprint into the broader creative and experiential space, suggesting a push beyond traditional broadcasting into areas where content, culture and immersive experiences intersect.
At the same time, ZEEL has moved to tidy up its financials, approving the redemption of $23.9 million in outstanding foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) and cancelling an unused $215.1 million commitment. The twin steps are expected to ease pressure on its treasury, freeing up capital and improving financial flexibility as the company invests more aggressively in its IP strategy.
Taken together, the decisions reflect a company in recalibration mode streamlining legacy structures, sharpening its focus on content ownership, and exploring new avenues for growth. In a market where the lines between television, streaming and experiential entertainment are increasingly blurred, ZEEL’s latest moves suggest it is not just creating content, but building a system to make that content travel further and pay better.
