---
title: "Short note: Environmental problems and impacts"
subject: "Project Engineering"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/project_engineering:environmental-problems-impacts-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/environmental-problems-impacts-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Environmental problems and impacts

Project Engineering · Chapter 2: Project Appraisal and Project Formulation

- Asked in: 2068 Baisakh (old course), 8 marks; 2067 Asar (old course), 4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/project_engineering/environmental-problems-impacts-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/project_engineering/chapter-2

## Question

Write a short note on environmental problems (in Nepal) and types of impacts.

## Short answer

Nepal's environmental problems include deforestation, soil erosion, landslides, air and water pollution, solid waste, glacier retreat, unplanned urbanisation and resource extraction. Impacts are classified as direct or indirect, positive or negative, short or long term, reversible or irreversible, local or global, cumulative, and physical, biological, socio-economic or cultural.

## Answer

#### Environmental problems in Nepal
- Deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
- Soil erosion, landslides and floods in the hills and the Terai.
- Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley (vehicles, brick kilns, dust).
- Water pollution of rivers (such as the Bagmati) from sewage and industry.
- Solid waste and poor disposal.
- Glacier retreat and the effects of climate change.
- Unplanned urbanisation and loss of farmland.
- Noise pollution and haphazard extraction of resources (sand, boulders).

#### Types of impacts
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Direct / indirect | Immediate result vs secondary effect |
| Positive / negative | Beneficial vs harmful |
| Short term / long term | Lasts a short time (e.g. construction noise) vs persists for years (e.g. loss of forest, operation effects) |
| Reversible / irreversible | Can recover or not |
| Local / regional / global | Extent of area affected |
| Cumulative | Added effect of many projects |
| Physical, biological, socio-economic, cultural | Component affected |

#### Improvement measures
Strict EIA and monitoring, afforestation, slope stabilisation, treatment plants, clean transport and emission standards, waste management, community forestry, public awareness and law enforcement.

## Check yourself

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

1. Which is an environmental problem listed for Nepal?
   A. Excess forest cover
   B. Deforestation, soil erosion, air pollution in Kathmandu valley and river pollution such as Bagmati
   C. No landslides
   D. Clean rivers
   Answer: B. These are among the problems listed. (Key point: Problems in Nepal)

2. What distinguishes direct and indirect impacts?
   A. Immediate result vs secondary effect
   B. Short vs long
   C. Good vs bad
   D. Local vs global
   Answer: A. Direct is immediate; indirect is secondary. (Key point: Direct vs indirect)

3. Which impact can recover to its original state?
   A. Global
   B. Cumulative
   C. Reversible
   D. Irreversible
   Answer: C. Reversible impacts can recover, irreversible ones cannot. (Key point: Reversibility)

4. What is a cumulative impact?
   A. The added effect of many projects
   B. A single short event
   C. An impact on one household
   D. A positive effect only
   Answer: A. Cumulative impacts add up from many projects. (Key point: Cumulative)

5. Which is an improvement measure?
   A. Increase deforestation
   B. Stop monitoring
   C. Remove laws
   D. Strict EIA and monitoring, afforestation and treatment plants
   Answer: D. Listed measures include EIA, afforestation, slope stabilisation and waste management. (Key point: Improvement measures)

## Related in Project Engineering

- [EIA; environmental problems in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aeia-nepal-problems-improve) — Project Engineering, chapter 2
- [EIA, environmental impacts, checklist method](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fproject_engineering%3Aeia-problems-impacts-checklist) — Project Engineering, chapter 2

## Related in other subjects

- [Environmental impacts of wind machine](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Awind-machine-environment-impact) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-impacts-nepal-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Nepal's immediate environmental issues and technology](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Anepal-env-issues-technology) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4, asked 2×
- [Nepal's environmental issues and global effort](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Anepal-env-issues-global-effort) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 4