CSMVS, in Kala Ghoda, is a landmark in more ways than one. Apart from its excellent art collection, the building, constructed in 1914, has taken the lead in adopting sustainable practices. In 2008, after a careful appraisal of its water needs, it switched to rainwater harvesting (RWH).

"Surface water was inadequate to meet our demands and our groundwater [was depleted]," says Bhavdatt Patel, administrative officer, who has been with the museum since 2014. "Since the museum has a vast landscaped garden, we explored possibilities to utilise rainwater in gardening by installing a RWH system. This would help in conserving BMC-supplied water, using it only for drinking purposes." Installed at a cost '9 lakh, the museum initially put in place two tanks of 5,000 litres each, and later augmented the system to three tanks of 10,000 litres each in 2018. "Today, the RWH system provides 70,000 litres of water each day."