Sanyam Ishpujani
Atreyee Guha
Riya Lekhwani
Nandini Dokania
Agranya Godara
Goa Institute of Management
Divya Singhal
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Lila Digital and Environmental Solutions, located in Goa, India, is a leader in sustainable water management and environmental solutions. The company focuses on providing comprehensive services that encompass design, implementation, and maintenance, directly supporting the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land). Their innovative approaches promote resource conservation, enhance community resilience, and ensure ecological sustainability.
Lila Solutions’ innovation is rooted in its unique service model for water and waste management. In the past, clients often had to work with multiple vendors for project design, implementation, and maintenance, which resulted in fragmented accountability and inefficiencies. To address this issue, Lila developed an integrated solution by assembling multidisciplinary in-house teams that manage the entire project lifecycle.
Their offerings include the design and implementation of Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) systems, Solid Waste Management (SWM) projects, and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). A notable aspect of their STPs is the customized approach—Lila partners with clients to assess their operational needs and create tailored plants. For instance, when a client running an Airbnb sought their expertise, Lila suggested increasing the plant’s capacity to accommodate higher water usage, ensuring compliance and smooth operations.
In addition to water treatment, Lila incorporates drip irrigation and rainwater recharge systems into their projects, which helps minimize water wastage and enhances soil quality. They also promote early client engagement in project planning and optimizing site layouts for gravity-fed systems that lower energy consumption, in line with SDG 13’s climate action objectives.
The company’s journey began as an IT services firm, but the founders’ commitment to environmental sustainability sparked a transformation. Mr. D’Souza, the founder, reflects, “It all started with small repair requests for STPs. We noticed that fragmented services left clients struggling to comply with regulations.”
This feedback motivated Lila to innovate. “Many of our ideas stem from listening to our on-ground teams,” Mr. D’Souza explains, highlighting the crucial role of site engineers and maintenance staff in pinpointing shortcomings in traditional solutions. Their insights led to the development of a unified service model aimed at surpassing compliance standards. As Mr. D’Souza states, “We don’t just meet regulations—we aim to exceed them, ensuring our projects create a lasting positive impact on the environment.
Lila Solutions has realized significant short- and long-term impacts through its initiatives. Each year, their STPs collectively treat over 3 million liters of sewage, protecting water bodies from pollution and mitigating groundwater contamination, a vital achievement under SDG 6. In areas where rainwater harvesting systems have been implemented, communities report increased groundwater levels, which directly benefits agriculture and local water supply (SDG 15).
Their projects also enhance climate resilience (SDG 13). By incorporating energy-efficient designs such as gravity-fed systems, they reduce carbon footprints. Furthermore, by decreasing dependence on external water sources through recycling and reuse, Lila assists businesses in lowering water procurement costs and adhering to stricter environmental compliance standards, thereby minimizing the risk of penalties and operational disruptions.
Lila’s integrated service model has greatly enhanced its business by building client loyalty and expanding revenue streams. Repeat clients are fundamental to their growth. “Most of the clients we’ve worked with keep coming back to us, which lowers our marketing costs and strengthens our relationships,” Mr. D’Souza explains. Their website mentions that in the last 15 years they have completed over 100 projects.
The company’s expertise in plumbing and irrigation has opened new opportunities, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation systems for both residential and commercial clients. These systems, which cut water consumption by 50%, align well with SDGs 6 and 15. Additionally, corporate clients have collaborated with Lila to implement similar projects as part of their CSR initiatives, amplifying Lila’s impact on the community and enhancing their brand reputation.
Lila Solutions’ projects offer significant societal and environmental benefits. Their rainwater harvesting systems help recharge groundwater, tackling water scarcity in Goa. Improved water availability aids farmers, supports biodiversity, and ensures that dry borewells are revived, directly supporting SDG 15’s goal to protect terrestrial ecosystems.
Their STPs not only prevent untreated sewage from contaminating rivers and oceans but also recycle water for non-potable uses like gardening and cleaning, thereby reducing overall water demand. This aligns with SDG 6’s aim to ensure sustainable water management. Furthermore, by promoting energy-efficient designs and minimizing resource waste, Lila makes a substantial contribution to SDG 13’s climate action objectives.
The ripple effect of their innovation is clear in how communities and businesses adopt sustainable practices inspired by Lila’s solutions. As Mr. D’Souza points out, “Our clients are so impressed with the outcomes that they often implement similar projects for the local community through their CSR programs.
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Lila Digital and Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd., founded in 2010 and headquartered in Panaji, Goa, is a service-oriented company specializing in sustainable water and environmental management solutions.
