INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI

Major Examination RDL725; 2020-21, Spring Semester

Time duration: 2 hrs
MM: 80

Q1 Discuss various techniques of environmental valuation. Given the following cases in which an 20
environmental damage has occurred, choose the best technique to estimate the cost of damage for each
case and provide a brief justification for your choice. After selecting the suitable technique fill the table
given below for each case.
1. Landfill site
2. Loss wilderness area in a national park due to highway project
3. Development of Residential colony on wetland
Case Valuation Good or Type of Affected Benefits Limitations
Method Services Value group (User of of Method
Captured or and Non Method
Users)
1
2
3
Q2 A typical 100 MW hydropower project located in a highest seismic zone in Western Himalayas. 25
The soil in the study area is young and the major land use category in the study area is forestland
(85%). The agricultural land is 5% and the remaining is ether barren land or under snow cover &
water bodies accounted. The total catchment area of river intercepted is 400 km2 of which 45% is
permanently snow covered. The proposed project lies in the vicinity of a National Park, where
rare & endangered species have been reported. Variety of fishes dominated by trout belong to the
area. The total affected population of the order of 500 persons in 150 families. About 40% of the
project-affected population is illiterate or not going to school. The remaining is either literate or is
presently continuing with their education. All the affected families reared domesticated animals.
No family was houseless. About 37% of the houses were electrified
To comply with the national requirements, the developer has decided to undertake an Environmental
Impact Assessment. Carry out scoping for the project (Potential Impact) to identify environmental
issues for inclusion in an environmental impact study. Choose suitable tool (preferably Matrix or
Network) for Environmental Impact Assessment. Also provide the list of experts for carrying EIA.

Q3 a How the concept of Circular Economy can improve the environmental performance of industries 5
Q3 b Estimate the total annual Carbon Footprint (in kgCO2e/yr) of an Indian household involving 10
Electricity Bill (in Rs), Travel (km), Food consumption (kcal), Services utilization (Rs).
Approximate Emission factors are given respectively as, EFkWh=35 kgCO2e/Rs; EFkm=0.499
kgCO2e/km; EFMeat=14.1 kgCO2e/kcal; EFCereal=1.3 kgCO2e/kcal, EFDairy=4.5 kgCO2e/kcal;
EFVeg=2.8 kgCO2e/kcal, EFHealth=28 kgCO2e/Rs; EFRecreation=19 kgCO2e/Rs, EFCommunication=0.12
kgCO2e/Rs. In balanced diet, a man needs around 2000kcal a day. Assume the other relevant
details.
Q4 a The consequence of an environmental externality is a divergence between social and private 10
costs. How would this cause market failure and what exactly is meant by market failure?
Q4 b Briefly define the following concepts: pollution control cost, pollution damage cost, pollution 10
prevention as opposed to pollution cleanup. Explain how the damage cost function represents the
demand function for environmental quality.