---
title: "Engineering geological problems in tectonic divisions"
subject: "Engineering Geology I"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_3/engineering_geology_i:engineering-geological-problems-in-tectonic"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/engineering-geological-problems-in-tectonic
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Engineering geological problems in tectonic divisions

Engineering Geology I · Chapter 7: Geology of Nepal

- Asked in: 2081 Chaitra (new course), 4 marks; 2081 Baisakh (new course), 1 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [A Brief History of Geologic Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWp5ZpJAIAE) — PBS Eons
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/engineering-geological-problems-in-tectonic
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/chapter-7

## Question

Discuss the engineering geological problems (challenges) in the different tectonic subdivisions of the Nepal Himalaya.

## Short answer

Main engineering problems include floods and liquefaction in Terai; landslides and weak rock in Siwalik; landslides and shear zones in Lesser Himalaya; rockfall, avalanches and GLOFs in Higher Himalaya; karst and frost in Tethys; and crushed zones and earthquakes along thrusts.

## Answer

| Zone | Main engineering geological problems |
|---|---|
| Terai | Floods, river shifting and bank cutting, high water table, soft soils with low bearing capacity, liquefaction, arsenic in groundwater, no rock for aggregate |
| Siwalik | Weak, poorly consolidated rocks, landslides and debris flows, gully erosion, swelling mudstone, slaking, flash floods, steep slopes |
| Lesser Himalaya | Landslides in weathered phyllite and schist, shear zones along thrusts, karst and cavities in limestone, tunnel squeezing, seepage |
| Higher Himalaya | Very high relief and steep valleys, rockfall, avalanches, glacial lake outburst floods, moraine slides, difficult access, cold and frost |
| Tethys Himalaya | Karst in limestone, frost and permafrost, rockfall, cold, remoteness |
| Boundary thrusts (MFT, MBT, MCT) | Crushed zone, weak ground, earthquakes, landslides, water inflow |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which problem is typical of the Terai?
   A. Glacial lake outburst floods
   B. Karst in limestone
   C. Permafrost
   D. Floods, high water table, liquefaction and arsenic in groundwater
   Answer: D. Soft soils also give low bearing capacity. (Key point: Terai)

2. Which problem is typical of the Siwalik?
   A. Weak poorly consolidated rocks, landslides, gully erosion and swelling mudstone
   B. Avalanches
   C. Arsenic
   D. Permafrost
   Answer: A. Flash floods and steep slopes also occur. (Key point: Siwalik)

3. In the Lesser Himalaya, problems include:
   A. GLOF and avalanches
   B. Landslides in weathered phyllite and schist, karst in limestone and tunnel squeezing
   C. Floods in a plain
   D. Permafrost
   Answer: B. Shear zones along thrusts add to the hazards. (Key point: Lesser Himalaya)

4. Tethys Himalaya problems include:
   A. Liquefaction
   B. Arsenic
   C. Karst in limestone, frost, permafrost and remoteness
   D. River shifting
   Answer: C. Cold, dry high-altitude conditions apply. (Key point: Tethys)

## Related in Engineering Geology I

- [Tectonic divisions of the Nepal Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Atectonic-divisions-of-the-nepal) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 4×
- [Discontinuities and engineering problems in Nepal Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Adiscontinuities-and-engineering-problems-in) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7
- [Tectonic divisions with sketch and problems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Atectonic-divisions-with-sketch-and) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 4×
- [Tectonic division and Lesser Himalaya geology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Atectonic-division-and-lesser-himalaya) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7
- [Physiographic division of the Nepal Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aphysiographic-division-of-the-nepal) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7, asked 7×
- [Physiographic and tectonic division of Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aphysiographic-and-tectonic-division-of) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Mitigation of geological problems in Himalaya](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Ahimalaya-problems-mitigation) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2
- [Engineering geological problems of Siwalik zone](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Asiwalik-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 4×
- [Problems of Lesser Himalaya with mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Alesser-himalaya-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 5×
- [Problems of Lesser Himalaya and Terai](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Alesser-himalaya-terai-problems) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 2, asked 5×