This baseline study summarizes the physical, biological, and socio-economic conditions of the area surrounding a proposed road upgrading project from Chakdara to Madyan in Swat, Pakistan. Key findings include: 1) The project area has a mountainous terrain located along the Swat River valley with forests, meadows, and agricultural lands. Surface water sources include the Swat River and tributaries. 2) Socio-economically, the population relies on agriculture as the primary occupation and land use. 3) Environmentally, the area has good quality groundwater resources but is at risk for flooding based on a devastating flood in 2010. No endangered species or protected areas were identified in the

1. Baseline Study
UPGRADATION / REHABILITATION
OF ROAD FROM CHAKDARA TO
MADYAN ON THE RIGHT BANK OF
RIVER SWAT

2. Baseline Study
By:
Raheela Shabbir

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

4. 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.

5. 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

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

7. Biological Environment
• Fauna
• Flora
• Fish
• Rangelands
• Protected Areas
• Endangered Species
• Forest

8. 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

9. Geography

10. 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.

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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Land Use

15. 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 )

16. 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,

17. 5. Water Resources
• Project area is located at right bank of Swat
river.

18. Cont..
Sources of Surface Water
• Swat river
• Other rivers ( Daral khwar, Harnoi khwar
etc)
• Nalas

19. Cont..
• Sources of Groundwater
• Recharge takes place during rains by
infiltration.
• Groundwater is present in the form of
springs also.

20. Groundwater Quality Parameters
SR. NO. Parameters Units Results WHO
MAXIMUM
ALLOWABLE
GUIDELINE
VALUE
1 Lead (Pb) mg/L N.D. -
2
Biochemical
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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Cont..
• Rainfall
• Distribution of rainfall is unpredictable
throughout the year.
• No meteorological station is present in Swat.

24. 7. Ambient Air Quality

25. 8. Noise Level
• Noise levels are monitored at two locations
near project area:
• Kabal Chowk Swat
• Kanju Chowk Swat

26. 9. Minerals

28. 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.

29. 11. Physical Cultural Heritage

30. 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.