Designation: 
Professor
Office Phone: 
(022)-2576 7830
Email: 
bakulrao@iitb.ac.in
Mobile: 
+91 9619182552
Research Interests: 

Environmental impact framework for rural areas, State of environment studies, Field assessments & remediation, Matrix characterization, Climate change

Personal Webpage: 
Prof. Bakul Rao's webpage
Education: 
  • Management Program for Women Entrepreneurs 2006 Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, India
  • Ph.D.in Environmental Science & Engineering 2001 Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
  • M. Sc.(Analytical & Medicinal Chemistry) 1989 SNDT Women's University
  • B.Sc.(Chemistry) 1987 Bombay University
Courses Taught: 
  • TD 613: Ecology and Environment
  • TD 608: Project and Programmes: Management & Analysis
  • TD 616: Environmental Systems (Assessments & Monitoring)
  • TD 654: Environmental Services: Design and Planning
  • TD 612: Technologies in Practice
  • TD 609: Field work - Directed Research
  • TD 691: Development Protocol
  • TD 604: Social Science Research Methods and System Dynamics
  • TD 390, TD 490, TD 491 - TDSL Courses
  • TD 625: Development Monitoring and Evaluation
  • TD 627: Field Research Methods
  • TD 632: SDG(Sustainable Development Goals) & CSR(Corporate social responsibility)
  • TD 625: Environmental Governanace & Development
Publications: 
Journal Papers
  1. Kumar, A. Rao, B., De, A.K. "Milk proteins, health issues and its implications on National Livestock Breeding Policy of India" accepted Current Science, 2018
  2. Jain R., Ajmera H. Rao B. "Reducing resource disparity in healthcare resource allocation of laboratories in countries with limited resources by empowering policy making and implementation" accepted Current Science, 2018
  3. Jain R., Rao B. and Tare A. "Comparative Analysis of the Spectrophotometric based Total Phenolic Acid Estimation Methods,"  Journal of Analytical Chemistry, Vol.72 9:, 2017, pp.972-976
  4. Sharma N. and Rao B. "Life cycle atmospheric emissions and energy use of the collection phase of a typical Indian sewerage system," Energy, Ecology and Environment, 2017
  5. Thampi, A., Rao, B. "Application of Multi-criteria decision making tools for technology choice in treatment and disposal of Municipal Solid Waste for Local Self Government Bodies: A case study of Kerala, India \textit{The Journal of Solid Waste Technology and Management, Vol.41 1:, 2015, pp.84-95
  6. Jain, R., Rao, B. "Medical diagnostic laboratories provisioning of services in India,  CHRISMED Journal of Health and Research, Vol.2 1:, 2015, pp.19-31
  7. Jain, R., Rao, B. "Critical analysis of India's National Mission on Medicinal Plants (NMMP) in providing access to quality botanical drugs to improve public health, Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, Vol.6 3:, 2015, pp.198-207
  8. Kumbhar, S., Kulkarni, N., Rao, A.B., Rao, B. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Traditional Bricks in Western Maharashtra, India," Energy Proceedia, Vol.54 :, 2014, pp.260-269
  9. Rao, B., Mane, A., Rao A.B., Sardeshpande V. "Multi-criteria Analysis of Alternative Biogas Technologies," Energy Proceedia, Vol.54, 2014, pp.292-301
  10. Rahi Jain  and Bakul Rao  Application of AHP tool for decision making of choice of technology for extraction of anti-cancer bioactive compounds of plant origin. International Journal of Analytic Hierarchy Process,  Vol.5 1:, 2013, pp.3-29.
  11. Rao, B.H. Issues in Water Resource Management for Urban Centres. Business Review, 2008.
  12. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., QSAR Models to Predict Effect of Ionic Strength on Sorption of Chlorinated Benzenes and Phenols at Sediment-Water Interface. Water Research  35, 14, 3391-3401, 2001.
  13. Rao, B.H., Swaminathan, R., and Asolekar, S.R., Washing of Marine Coastal Sand in a Batch Reactor:  Sorption and Desorption of BTEX. J Air \& Waste Manage Assoc. 51, 1043-1059, 2001.
  14. Bagade, N., Rao, B., Kedare, S. B., & Vekhande, S. (2021). Developing a financial rank to assess the financial performance of farm households. Educational Research (IJMCER), 3(5), 105-117.
  15. Rao, B.H., Conditions Imposed by the MoEF While Granting Environmental Clearance. Environmental Impact Assessment Quarterly 2000.
  16. Chandana, N., & Rao, B. (2022). A critical review on sludge management from onsite sanitation systems: A knowledge to be revised in the current situation. Environmental Research, 203, 11181
  17. Singh, R., Rao, B., Maillacheruvu, K., & Asolekar, S. R. (2019). Reusing Fractions of Legacy Municipal Solid Wastes in India: A Circular Economy Approach. Productivity, 60(3)
  18. Bodasingi, V. K., Rao, B., & Pillai, H. K. (2023, March). Low-cost Soil Moisture and EC Sensor Design for Soil Salinity Assessment. In 2023 19th IEEE International Colloquium on Signal Processing & Its Applications (CSPA) (pp. 162-167). IEEE.
  19. Diwakar, Y. R., & Rao, B. (2023). Evolution of the National Evaluation System in India. Asia Pacific Journal of Evaluation, 1(01).
  20. Naranjo-Soledad, A., Smesrud, L., Bandaru, S. R., Hernandez, D., Mehare, M., Mahmoud, S., ... & Gadgil, A. (2023). Low-cost, local production of a safe and effective disinfectant for resource-constrained communities. medRxiv, 2023-07.
  21. Kumar, A., Rao, B., & De, A. K. (2022). Islands of Milk Insecurity in World’s Leading Milk Producer: A Case of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Sustainability, 15(1), 206.
  22. Chandana, N., & Rao, B. Research Paper Status of sustainable sanitation chain in rural, semi-urban, and urban regions: a case study of Maharashtra, India.
  23. KUMAR, A., RAO, B., & JAIN, R. (2020). Selfing in Buxus wallichiana Baill.: a trait or strategy?. CURRENT SCIENCE, 118(7), 1021.
  24. Patil, B., Rathore, A., Garud, A., & Rao, B. (2020). Social and Policy Study for Municipal Solid Waste Management Planning for Small Towns in Maharashtra: Case of Mowad. In Recent Developments in Waste Management: Select Proceedings of Recycle 2018 (pp. 105-125). Springer Singapore.
  25. Rayasam, S. D., Rao, B., & Ray, I. Practical Paper The reality of water quality monitoring for SDG 6: A report from a small town in India.
  26. Kumar, A., Rao, B., & Jain, R. (2020). Development of analytical hierarchy process based dairy index for assessment of the dairy sector in different states of India.
  27. Singh, R., Vivek, J. M., Rao, B., & Asolekar, S. R. (2019). Significance of the presence of asbestos in construction and demolition wastes in India. In Advances in Waste Management: Select Proceedings of Recycle 2016 (pp. 303-317). Springer Singapore.
  28. Jain, R., & Rao, B. (2019). Role of laboratory services in primary health center (PHC) outpatient department performance: an Indian case study. Primary health care research & development, 20, e112.  

Book Chapters

  1. Singh R., Vivek J.M., Rao B., Asolekar S.R. (2019) Significance of the Presence of Asbestos in Construction and Demolition Wastes in India. In: Kalamdhad A., Singh J., Dhamodharan K. (eds), Advances in Waste Management. Springer, Singapore
  2. Singh, R., Rao, B. and Asolekar S, R., (2017). Treatment and Disposal of Glass-wool and Asbestos Bearing Waste-Insulation Materials from Ship Dismantling Yards in India, In 15th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (CEST 2017) held during Aug 31 and Sept 2, 2017 in Island of Rhodes, Greece [Selected by the journal of WM&R- under review].
  3. Singh R., Vivek J. M., Rao B. and Asolekar S. R. (2016). Environmental Sound Management of Asbestos Wastes Generated from Industries in India. In Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Solid Waste Management, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West Bengal during 22 and 26 Nov, 2016 [Selected for publication in Book release by Springer- Waste Management and Resources- under final review]
  4. State of Environment Report, Bangalore – 2008 Published by EMPRI, Government of Karnataka and GTZ
  5. Eco-Reckoner  - A compendium of ecological terms – 2008, Published by the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme
  6. State of Environment and Action Plan, Karnataka – 2003 – Published by the Government of Karnataka and World Bank
Conferences: 
  1. Kumar, A. and Rao, B. Zebu cattle, "Milk proteins and the Livestock Breeding Policy of India: Is there a cross talk?" 18th Asian-Australasian Animal Production Congress, 2018, Malaysia Bhagyashree Patil, Ankita Rathor, Amruta Garud and Prof Bakul Rao  Social and policy study for Municipal Solid Waste Management Planning Model for Small Towns in Maharashtra : Case of Mowad
  2. Kumar, A. and Rao, B.Zebu cattle, "Milk proteins and the Livestock Breeding Policy of India: Is there a cross talk?" 18th Asian-Australasian Animal Production Congress, 2018, Malaysia
  3. Garud A. and Rao B. "Urbanizing India and the need for Natural Resources Planning," American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) India conference, 2017, New  Delhi
  4. Sharma N. and Rao B. "Understanding the economic implications of the collection phase of a conventional Indian sewerage system: a life-cycle analysis,"American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) India conference, 2017, New Delhi
  5. Kumar, A. Rao, B. Status Quo of India's fight against milk safety issues," 3rd International Conference on Global Food Security,  Cape Town 2017 Poster
  6. Jain, R. Rao, B. "Role of laboratory in Primary health care: A case study of Osmanabad district, Maharashtra, India," 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Public Health,  2016, Bangkok, Thailand
  7. Kumar, A. Rao, B. "A risk analysis framework for the long-term management of aflatoxins in milk," Proceedings of International Conference on Public Health, 2016, New Delhi
  8. Kumar, A. and Rao, B. "Integrating crops and livestock in Indian agriculture systems: What is the way forward?, Proceedings of 3rd Biennial National Conference of Indian Academy of Veterinary Nutrition and Animal Health, 2015, Palampur
  9. Jain, R., Rao, B. Application of AHP Tool for Choosing a Medical Research Area, 6th European Conference of the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering,2015, Dubronvik, http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-11128-5\_251
  10. Yaparla, D., Rao, A.B., Rao, B. "Comparison of household level drinking water treatment technologies using Analytical Hierarchy process, "International Symposium on Analytic Hierarchy Process, 2014, Washington DC,
  11. Maloo, N., Seetharaman, S., Rao, B., Kumar, D., Nishane, I. J. "Standardization of the baseline study to plan for roads and transportation in villages: Case of Chikurde and Bhulane in Maharashtra,"11th Transportation Planning and Implementation Methodologies for Developing Countries, 2014, Mumbai
  12. Use of Open Source Tools for Water Resources Planning and its use in Vulnerability Assessment  Kirubaharan Jeremiah, Bakul Rao, International Conference on Agriculture and Climate Change, New Delhi, organized by TERI,  January 29-30,  2013.
  13. Rao, B. Rao, A.B. Mane,A. Sardeshpande, V. "Multi-criteria analysis of alternative biogas technologies for India's sustainable development," International Conference on Advances in Energy Research (ICAER) 2013, 2013, Mumbai,
  14. Kumbhar, S. Kulkarni, N. Rao, B. Rao, A.B. "Social and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Brick making in Western Maharashtra, India," International Conference on Advances in Energy Research (ICAER) 2013, 2013, Mumbai, ,
  15. Towards environmental assessments for change in land use of Industrial to Residential and Commercial Land Use Conversions in Core City, Nishant Maloo and Bakul Rao, 15th International Conference on Humane Habitat (Theme: Reinventing Our Metropolises as Sustainable Humane Habitats), Mumbai  organized by The International Association for Humane Habitat (IAHH) February 2-4, 2013.
  16. Development of a Decision Making tool for Choice of Technology in Municipal Solid Waste Management for Local Self Government Bodies - A Case Study of Kerala, India. Anitha Thampi and Bakul Rao, Paper presented at the 27th International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management, Philadelphia, PA, USA  March 11 - 14, 2012.
  17. A Comparative Study on Household Level Technologies  for Treating Drinking Water Yaparla Deepthi, Bakul Rao, Anand B. Rao Paper presented at the National Conference on Water Purification Technologies & Management (InDACON-2012), Mumbai, India organized by SIES & Indian Desalination Association February 8 - 9, 2012.
  18. Mahindrakar, A.B., Rao, B.H., and Asolekar, S.R.,Comparison of In-situ and Ex-situ Techniques for decontamination of Earth Matrices. Technical Poster. Proceedings of EnvironVision-2002  5th Annual Conference of Indian Environmental Association entitled ‚ “Advance in Environmental Management and Technology”, Mumbai, May 31st - June 1st, 2002.
  19. Mahindrakar, A.B., Rao, B.H., and Asolekar, S.R., How clean is ‚Äúclean‚Äù?:  Technologies for Physico-chemical remediation of soils, aquifers, and sediments. Oral Presentation. Proceedings of Conference, Pune, May 3rd, 2002.
  20. Rao, B.H., Sudhasri, K., and Asolekar, S.R., Clean-up of Soils Contaminated with Hazardous Wastes, Technical Poster. Proceedings of EnvironVision-2000  3rd Annual Conference of Indian Environmental Association entitled ‚ÄúIndustrial Wastewater Recycle and Reuse‚Äù, Mumbai, May 5th -6th, 2000.
  21. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Characterisation of Hazardous Waste Proceedings of the Workshop on ‚ “Hazardous Waste Management” organised by the Mahad Manufacturers Association in association with the National Solid Waste Association of India, Mahad, August 21st, 1999.
  22. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Physico-Chemical Fate Processes of Hydrophobic Organic Pollutants in Natural and Engineered Aquatic Environment, Technical Poster.  Proceedings of EnvironVision-1999  2nd Annual Conference of Indian Environmental Association entitled ‚ “Wastewater Management in Next Decade”, Mumbai,  May 14-15th, 1999.
  23. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Characterisation of Hazardous Waste Proceedings of the Workshop on‚ “Hazardous Waste Management” organised by the National Solid Waste Association of India, Mumbai, November 7th, 1998.
  24. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Structure Activity Relationship for Prediction of Sorption of Chlorobenzenes and Phenols at the Soil-Water Interface. Oral presentation. Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation Technical Conference and Exhibition WEFTEC Asia, Singapore, March 7th -11th , 1998.
  25. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Sorption of Benzene and Toluene on the Patalaganga River Sediments. Oral Presentation. Proceedings of the National Workshop on Environmental Pollution and Control, Belgaum, April 12th -13th, 1997.
  26. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Ex-Situ Washing of Patalaganga River Sediments Contaminated with Hydrophobic Non-Ionic Organic Pollutants. Oral presentation. Proceedings of the International Conference on Industrial Pollution and Control Technologies, Hyderabad, November 17th -19th, 1997.
  27. Rao, B.H., Swaminathan, R., and Asolekar, S.R., Interaction of Petroleum Fractions with Silicates in Coastal Environment - Physio-Chemical Fate Process Model Development and Treatment Technology. Technical Poster. Proceedings of the International Conference on Advances in Chemical Engineering, Madras, December 11th -13th, 1996.
  28. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Interactions of Natural Waters with Soils Contaminated with Hazardous Wastes. Technical Poster. Proceedings of the National Symposium on Management of Radioactive and Toxic Wastes [Smart 95],  Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, March 20th -21th, 1995.
  29. Rao, B.H. and Asolekar, S.R., Remediation of Soils Contaminated with Hydrophobic Non-Ionic Organic Pollutants in a Soil Washing Reactor. Oral Presentation. Proceedings of the XIth National Convention of Environmental Engineers and Seminar on Environmental Control Technology - Advances, Law, and Awareness to Curb Pseudoism, Roorkee, November 10th -11th 1995.
Other Academic Activities/ Responsibilities
  • Member of ‘Research Progress Committee (RPC)’ of the following Ph.D. students: Mrs. Anitha Thampi, Mr. Bharat Damani, Mr. Sivamuthu Prakash Murugan, Ms.Asha Panwar, Ms. Neelam Rana, Mr. Vipin Singh and Ms. Punam Singh, Mr. Manu, Mr. Rahul, Ms Laxmi, Ms. Shruti Sharma
  • Reviewer for the Journals / Conferences / Agencies
  1. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
  2. European Journal of Integrative Medicine
  3. Department of Science and Technology, GOI
  4. INDICON-2013
  5. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology - AQUA,
  6. Ecological Modelling,
  7. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development
  8. Journal of Cleaner Production
  9. Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy
  10. Reviewed the book  "Environmental Studies" for Under-Graduate Engineering students, Authors: Prof. Shyam Asolekar and Prof. Soli Arceivala; Publishers McGraw-Hill (India) Ltd
  11. Post Graduate Programme Committee (PGPC) 2019-2022
  12. Committee for Institute Support for Participation in International Conference 2019-2022
  13. BIRAC - Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
  14. CTARA - DPGC Member & DPC Member
  • External Ph.D/ M.Tech Thesis Examiner for CEPT University, Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
  • Member of the Green Campus Initiative CTARA's Budget Committee, Space Committee Member
  • Conducted a Short-course on Preparation of Project Design Document (PDD) under the Framework of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) during February-March, 2010 at CESE, IIT Bombay.
  • Taught at the School of Habitat Studies, TISS during July-Sept, 2010, lectures on `Ecology and Environment' in the course on Basic Technical Capabilities for Habitat Professionals

Theme

Development of a framework for planning, monitoring and evaluation of local governance systemThe District Annual Plans form the linkage with Grampanchayat Development plans on one end and with the State and Central programs and plans on the other end. The District Planning Committes are the point of convergence for all these plans, across sectors and programs. Apart from planning, DPCs also have a role in vigilance and monitoring of development programs in the district. In Maharashtra, District Planning Office is expected to carry out evaluation studies and present the results to the DPC. Anecdotal evidence points to DPCs functioning in a very limited way. An evaluation of functioning of DPCs to identify their limitations needs to be carried out. Also, support to DPCs and GPs for better planning, monitoring and evaluation of development programs and integration between various government levels is to be explored. This research plans to develop a framework for planning, monitoring and evaluation of this local governance system.