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Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi
nd
CVL 100 Environmental Studies (2 Semester 2014-15)
Major Examination Max Marks= 45 Time = 1 ½ Hrs
Serial No. _______ Entry No.___________________ Group: ________ Name:______________________________________________________
Note: (i) Assume the missing data/ information (if any) and state it clearly; (ii) Please do not ask any doubts during the examination; (iii) Exchange of calculators, pens, pencils
etc is not allowed.
PART - A : Multiple Choice Questions [Please write A/B/C/D in the column marked for ANS. Correct answer of an MCQ will get you 2 marks and a wrong answer will ANS
get you -1 mark] [20]
1. ‘Silent Spring’ a landmark book written by Rachel Carson (in 1962) highlighted the environmental problems due to A
(A) Excessive use of pesticides (B) Excessive air pollution due to industrial operations and vehicles in cities
(C) Excessive noise produced by industrial operations and vehicles in cities (D) none of the above
2. Noise pollution due to loading and unloading of material during construction phase of a project is A
(A) insignificant and irreversible impact (B) long term and significant impact (C) negative but reversible impact (D) None of the above
3. Contamination of a confined ground water aquifer is B
(A) insignificant and reversible impact (B) long term and significant impact (C) negative but short-term impact (D) None of the above
4. Increased turbidity of nearby surface water body (due to inert suspended particles carried along with the surface runoff from a construction site) is a C
(A) significant and irreversible impact (B) long term and significant impact (C) negative but short-term impact (D) None of the above
5. A proposed hydroelectric project in lower Himalaya requires constructing a dam and creating water reservoir. This is likely to result in C
(A) degradation of submerged vegetation and thus release of global warming gases
(B) habitat fragmentation and disruption of migratory pathways of some of the fish species
(C) Both (A) and (B) (D) Neither (A) nor (B)
6. EIA is a regulatory instrument/ tool which, D
(A) helps in early identification and prevention of impacts (B) helps in generating public awareness about environmental issues
(C) helps in formulating environmental management plan for residual issues (D) All of the above
7. Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) includes likely effects of C
(A) proposed developmental project (B) proposed expansion of an existing project (C) both (A) and (B) (D) none of the above
8. Negative impacts on the environment identified during the EIA can be alleviated through mitigation measures. The mitigation hierarchy is: B
(A) Reduce - Remedy - Avoid - Compensate – Adopt (B) Avoid - Reduce - Remedy - Compensate - Adopt
(C) Compensate - Reduce - Remedy - Avoid - Adopt (D) Remedy - Avoid - Compensate – Reduce - Adopt
9. Impacts remaining after mitigation are known as residual impacts. In the context of construction phase of a project these residual impacts should preferably be B
(A) long term and significant (B) insignificant and reversible (C) negative, irreversible and long term (D) All of the above
10. Increased concentration of suspended particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air due to excavation of earth for the preparation of foundation of a building is a C
(A) significant and irreversible impact (B) long term and significant impact
(C) negative but short-term impact (D) None of the above
CVL100PSCGF Serial No.__________Name____________________________ Reg.No.__________________________________ 1
PART – B : State True or False [Please write TRUE/ FALSE in the column marked for ANS. Correct answer will get you 1 mark and a wrong answer will get you -1 ANS
mark] [15]
11. Participation of different stakeholders in EIA decision-making at an early stage can avoid potentially costly delays later in the process by resolving conflict early. T
12. There were no rules and regulations controlling wastewater discharges or emissions of air pollutants before Bhopal Gas Tragedy (in 1984). The tragedy was the
triggering factor in conceptualizing and enacting all the environmental acts including Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and Air (Prevention and Control of F
Pollution) Act.
13. Increased construction activity and urbanization required mining of sand from the banks of a nearby river. Significant depletion of sand from the riverbank may result T
in increased chances of flash floods due to reduction in the capacity to hold the surface runoff due to storm and slowly release it into the river.
14. Increased construction activity and urbanization required mining of sand from the banks of a nearby river. Riverbank sand acts as filter medium and its significant
depletion may result in increased concentration of nutrients (Nitrogen and Phosphorus Compounds) into the river water due to surface runoff from the nearby agriculture T
fields.
15. Hydro-electric projects require constructing a dam and creating water reservoir. This results in degradation of submerged vegetation and thus release of global T
warming gases.
16. Hydro-electric projects require constructing a dam and creating water reservoir. This results in habitat fragmentation and disruption of migratory pathways of some T
fish species.
17. A proposed project site is located in a remote area that is accessible by foot trail only. Construction of approach road may benefit the preservation of earlier F
inaccessible pristine ecosystem.
18. The area near an oil exploration project site is found to be attracting a number of fish of the same species. Therefore, it can be inferred the impact of the project is T
positive and beneficial to the fishermen.
19. The area near an oil exploration project site is found to be attracting a number of fish of the same species. Therefore, it can be inferred that the impact of the project T
on ocean ecosystem is positive and beneficial to the biodiversity.
20. Discharge of wastewater (from a thermal power plant) having a higher temperature than the nearby receiving snow-fed river is beneficial to the fish species present. F
21. Emissions of air pollutants (from an operating thermal power plant) having a higher concentration of SO2 and NOx may affect the migratory path of aviation fauna. T
22. EIA contributes to Sustainable Development. T
23. Likely effects of new development on the environment are fully understood and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead T
24. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy (in 1984) was an important factor in conceptualizing and enacting the umbrella act (namely The Environmental (Protection) Act) making T
the EIA process mandatory.
25. Excessive use of insecticides on agricultural fields may result in killing of birds out of hunger, since their prey i.e., the insects (on which they feed on) would be F
killed. In no case the insecticides used on agriculture field could contaminate the ground water and surface water resources and affect the human health.
CVL100PSCGF Serial No.__________Name____________________________ Reg.No.__________________________________ 2
PART – C: Case Study [10]
Note: Read the case given below carefully and State True or False [Please write TRUE/ FALSE in the column marked for ANS. Correct answer will get you 2 marks and a wrong
answer will get you -2 marks]
Case Description: Proposed Hydroelectric project is an attempt to tap 400 MW electricity from the huge water resource potential of Nepal. Besides meeting the domestic power
needs, the project is expected to open the possibility of exporting electricity. It is proposed to build in a snow fed River in the eastern Nepal. It is a run-of-the-river project, to be
run by the normal flow of the river. A small artificial lake of 55 hectares is, however, to be created by building a 158m long and 74m high dam in the river. Water from the
reservoir was to be conveyed by two 11.5km long tunnels to an underground powerhouse for generation of electricity. The flow coming out of the powerhouse will be returned to
the parent river. The project site is located in a remote area that is accessible by foot trail only. Thus for the construction and operation of the project an access road of length
122km will need to be built first. A 450km long, 220 KV transmission line will also need to be constructed to transmit the power up to Kathmandu. The social and environmental
features of the project area and its surroundings represent the typical Himalayan ecosystem. Besides the huge water resources, a rich biological, cultural and ethnic diversity,
and specific mountain advantages – the scenic beauty, hilly landscape, tranquility, salubrious climate, and inaccessible wilderness areas characterize the area. These positive
aspects of the ecosystem are, however, in contrast to its natural and man made fragile nature which is marked by high seismicity; mass wasting; glacial lakes outburst floods;
erosion and sedimentation; and climatic extremes. The socio-economy of its dense population is dependent primarily on forest, pasture and farmland. The increasing population
pressure and the fragile nature of its ecosystem through a vicious circle are constantly depleting and degrading these primary resources, increasing human hardship and in turn
degrading water and biodiversity resources.
ANS
26. Construction of the access road (122km) will have significantly beneficial impacts on the preservation of earlier inaccessible pristine ecosystem by allowing the F
wildlife experts and tourists an easy access.
27. The proposed project is likely to reduce the chances of flash floods/ outburst floods since it will involve creation of an artificial lake (~55 hectares) and underground F
tunnels (11.5km).
28. The 11.5 Km long proposed underground tunnels from water reservoir to the powerhouse will have a negative impact on the downstream users since the water used F
in power generation will not be available to the downstream users.
29. The proposed reservoir will accumulate silt and hence the fertility of the pastures and farmlands is likely to increase significantly. F
30. The proposed reservoir will be responsible for submergence of vegetation and hence release of global warming gases including carbon di oxide and methane. T
CVL100PSCGF Serial No.__________Name____________________________ Reg.No.__________________________________ 3
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