Baseline Study

UPGRADATION / REHABILITATION OF ROAD FROM CHAKDARA TO

MADYAN ON THE RIGHT BANK OF RIVER SWAT

Baseline Study

By: Raheela Shabbir

Baseline Study

• Work done to collect and interpret information on the condition/trends of the existing environment.

Area of Influence

• Immediate Area of influence• It includes surroundings of road (500m width

on either side of road).• Extended area of Influence• It covers the entire area of district swat.

Types of Baseline Study

• Baseline study is of three types:• Baseline study of physical environment• Baseline study of biological environment• Baseline study of socio-economic environment

Physical Environment• Geography • Geology• Seismicity • Land use• Water Resources• Climate• Ambient Air Quality• Noise Level• Minerals • Natural Event History • Physical Cultural Heritage

Biological Environment

• Fauna• Flora• Fish• Rangelands• Protected Areas• Endangered Species• Forest

Social Environment• Population • Community Structure• Poverty Status• Industries • Political Parties• Marriages• Social Organization• Religious Beliefs• Role, Position and status of women• Child Labor and Apprenticeship• Services and Amenities Available in the Area(drinking water, housing,

telecommunication etc.)• Tourism and Recreational Opportunities

Geography

1. Geography

• Topographically Swat is mountainous area, located among foothills of Hindukush mountain ranges.

• Swat is divided into two regions• 1. Swat Kohistan • 2. Swat Proper • Swat region has swat river due to which lush

green valleys, glaciers, forests, meadows and plains are present here.

2. Geology

• Project area is located at Peshawar Basin.• Sediments of Peshawar are:• Lacustrine Silt• Fluvial Sand • Clasts of Kohistan

Cont..

• Geology of project area is comprise of:• Gneiss product of metamorphism.• Schists composed of quartz.

• Alluvial deposits of weathered material with clay, gravel and boulders.

3. Seismicity

• Project area is located at Seismic zone A as reported by Geological Survey of Pakistan as it is located close fault line between Indian and Eurasian plate.

Land Use

4. Land Use

• Total area of Swat is 5337 sq km.• It is divided into two tehseels• Matta ( 628 sq km )• Kabal (4654 sq km )

Description Area ( in Acres) AREA (in Hectares)

Reported Area 1,251,653 506,528

Cultivated Area 242,296 98,054

Irrigated Area 227,336 92,000

Net Sown Area 232,046 93,906

Current Fallow Area 10,250 4,148

Total Cropped Area 467,153 189,051

Area Sown Repeatedly

160,976 65,145

Un–cultivated 1,009,357 408,474

Cultivable Waste 208,862 84,524

Forest Area 337,804 136,705

Unavailable for Cultivation

462,690 187,245

Source: Land Utilization Statistics, NWFP, 2007–2008

5. Water Resources

• Project area is located at right bank of Swat river.

Cont..

Sources of Surface Water • Swat river• Other rivers ( Daral khwar, Harnoi khwar

etc)• Nalas

Cont..

• Sources of Groundwater• Recharge takes place during rains by

infiltration.• Groundwater is present in the form of

springs also.

Groundwater Quality ParametersSR. NO. Parameters Units Results WHO

MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GUIDELINE

VALUE1 Lead (Pb) mg/L N.D. -

2Biochemical

Oxygen Demand

(BOD5) at 20°C

°C 33.2 -

3 Total Coliform Number/100ml N.D. 0/100 ml

4 Fecal Coliform Number/100ml N.D. 0/100 ml

Cont..

• Quality of Water is good, potable and sweet as reported by locals.

• Water quality in project area was tested by taking water samples from various sites.

• Result: Water quality is good and in permissible limit for human consumption.

6. Climate

• Climate is usually cold and upper Swat remains under snow in January and February.

• Spring starts form middle of March.• Summer starts from middle of May and

remains at the end of August. Monsoon rains start in the month of July during summer.

Cont..

• Rainfall• Distribution of rainfall is unpredictable

throughout the year.• No meteorological station is present in Swat.

7. Ambient Air Quality

• Air is clean as no industry close to project

area.

8. Noise Level

• Noise levels are monitored at two locations near project area:

• Kabal Chowk Swat• Kanju Chowk Swat

9. Minerals

• Swat is well known for emerald mines but there is no worth mineral mine along project area.

10. Natural Event History

• Flood of July 2010 devastated vast area of Swat including destruction of houses, bridges and erosion of vegetation.

• As flood causes damage to life, property etc. So volume, velocity and timing of flash floods should be incorporated in hydrological design of project.

11. Physical Cultural Heritage

• During survey no site of physical cultural

heritage have been seen along project route.

Fauna• No endangered species are reported in the selected

reach of the section. • No game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries exist in the

vicinity of Project Area. • No wetland lies within close vicinity of the Project

corridor.• There is very little significance of the Project Area for

migratory birds.• Commercial and recreational fishing was observed

along the project corridor.