Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Northern Route Road Construction Activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan

Abstract

To carry out this study the secondary data was collected through various means. Existing literature on the CPEC project and environmental and socio-economic profile of the studied districts was explored and consulted. Various online resources were also utilized. Further information was gathered through personal communication with the authorities concerned in Pakistan. Road construction material and processes are briefly described in section 3 and the equipment used, given as annexure II. Route length, the identified locations and main cities in each district along the KPK CPEC road route and accessible route specific information are given in Table 1 and 2 respectively. Some salient features of each of the studied districts in KPK are described in Table 3 and Annexures III (Figures A–F). As described and discussed in the foregoing pages, the impact of road construction activities (3.1./3.4.1/Table 4) on environmental segments are graded by considering the extent of emission/releases from different phases/processes during road construction. Relative district exposure to these impacts are assessed (3.4.2./Table 5) by taking into consideration the district road length, population, forest and cultivated areas. As concluded in the last section (# 4), the overall districts categorization (in terms of most resistant to most vulnerable vis-a-vis CPEC road construction activities) is based on the collective exposure to the studied environmental segments (population, forest & cultivated areas) of each district.