ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Block VI Lignite Mining Project Volume 3 of 3 (Appendices I to M) Sindh Carbon Energy Limited R3E03TCO April 2013 Hagler Bailly Pakistan Wardell Armstrong International Ltd. ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project Appendix I: Socioeconomic Baseline and Transport Basline I.1 Introduction The part of the southwestern desert area of Pakistan which is commonly known as the Thar Desert stretches for about 200 km from north to south and has a width of 200 km at its widest point (at the southern end) and about 80 km at its narrowest point (near the northern end). The ground elevation generally increases from south, where it is close to the sea level, to north where it is nearly 100 m; and from west to east. The dominant feature of this vast expanse of land is the sand dunes aligned in the northeast-southwest direction. However, the area is not uniform as both the size and frequency of the sand dunes vary across Thar Desert. The sand dunes, or bhits as they are locally called, are generally more frequent in the north than in the south. However, they appear to be relatively smaller in the east than in the west. Similarly, the size of the hills is generally smaller in the north than in the south. The largest of the sand dunes appear to be concentrated in the southwestern part of Thar Desert where some dunes rise to a height of almost 150 m from the base of the dune. Many of the sand dunes gradually shift. Hydrology, wind, rainfall, soil type, and vegetation have played critical roles in the evolution of the sand dunes. The rainfall in the south and southeast is higher than the north; consequently the vegetation cover in this area is also thick. The vegetation tends to stabilize the dunes and their shifting is much slower compared to those without good vegetation cover. Another important feature of the sand dunes is the valleys or plain areas between the dunes. This is where agricultural activities take place and where water accumulates after rain. The dunes in Block VI area are typically between 1.5 km and 2.5 km in length. The distance between the dunes (distance of one crest to the next) is typically between 300 m to 500 m. The dunes are oriented at 30º with respect to east-west direction. The sandy plains between the dunes are brought into cultivation to the extent possible. Settlements are generally located on elevated land close to the cultivated fields. The size of the settlement vary between five to10 households, which are no more than a hamlet, to more than 100 households for larger villages in the Block VI area. There is no permanent freshwater surface source in the Thar region. The villagers are dependent on groundwater dug wells to meet their potable water needs. Farming is exclusively rain fed. I.1.1 Study Area The study area for the socioeconomic baseline assessment (the ‗Study Area‘) comprises of the settlements located in the Block and those located within five km radius of the Block‘s boundaries. The Study Area is shown in Exhibit I.1. Hagler Bailly Pakistan Appendix I R3E03TCO: 04/30/13 I-1 ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project This study also covers information on Islamkot, specifically pertaining to the town‘s potential population expansion due to development of the Thar Coalfield. The information on Islamkot has been separately presented and analyzed in Section I.8.7 of the baseline report. I.1.2 Scope of Socioeconomic Baseline Survey A survey was initiated in the month of August to collect information on the socioeconomic conditions prevailing in the Study Area, which lasted for 13 days. Details to the survey are provided below. I.1.2.1 Survey Design Socioeconomic information was collected through questionnaires and focus group discussions. The survey was conducted in the following stages and levels: A rapid settlement survey was implemented in all the settlements within the Study Area, through which information was obtained on each settlement‘s population and ethnic profile. This information was utilized to identify the sample for a detailed settlement survey to follow; A detailed settlement survey was conducted in all the settlements within the Block and half the settlements in the remaining Study Area. Under this survey, key informants from each of the selected settlements were interviewed to gather information on the socioeconomic setting of the settlements; Focused group discussions were conducted separately with male and female informants from the settlements. These discussions were conducted in four settlements from the Study Area, two of which were from within the Block. The focus of the discussions was on obtaining an anthropological insight into the lives of the inhabitants of the Study Area; Household surveys were implemented alongside the detailed settlement survey. The survey focused on obtaining household level information such as income, expenditure, debt and demographics; Information specific to Islamkot was obtained in discussion with key informants from the Union Council Office, situated in Islamkot. I.1.2.2 Sampling and Survey Coverage The survey coverage is summarized in the Exhibit I.2. Sampling was performed based on the following criteria: All the settlements within the Block and half the settlements in the remaining Study Area were surveyed. Settlements within five km radius of the Block‘s boundaries were selected using the information on ethnicity obtained under the rapid settlement survey (see Section I.1.2.1). For each caste, the settlement in which it had the largest population was selected to ensure representation of all castes that existed in the Study Area under the sample selected. Further checks were made on total population and geographical location of the settlements. Exhibit I.1 marks the surveyed settlements in the Study Area; Hagler Bailly Pakistan Appendix I R3E03TCO: 04/30/13 I-2 ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project Out of 4,595 households within the Study Area, 185 households were surveyed. The population of the surveyed households forms a representative sample of 1,030 people.1 The sample was selected using a stratified sampling technique and the strata were developed based on the ethnic profile of each settlement. The sample households surveyed from each caste was based on the caste‘s share in the settlement population – a larger number of households were surveyed from the caste with the largest share in population of the settlement and vice versa; In selecting the households from the settlements, it was also ensured that the overall sample had a similar income distribution as was observed in the settlement. 1 For a population exceeding 24,000 people in the Study Area, a sample of 1,030 people is representative at 95% confidence level and 3% margin of error. Results verified from sample size calculator available at http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html (Date Accessed: August 22, 2011). Hagler Bailly Pakistan Appendix I R3E03TCO: 04/30/13 I-3 ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project Exhibit I.1: Study Area Hagler Bailly Pakistan Appendix I R3E03TCO: 04/30/13 I-4 ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project Exhibit I.2: Coverage of the Socioeconomic Survey Within Block Study Area Coverage of the Detailed Settlement Survey Total Number of Settlements 6 28 Settlements Surveyed 6 (100%) 17 (61%) Total Population 3,381 24,214 Population of the Surveyed Settlements 3,381 (100%) 19,356 (80%) Coverage of the Household Survey Total Number of Households 796 4,595 Households Surveyed 54 (7%) 185 (4%) Population of the Surveyed Households a 287 (8%) 1,030 (4%) a. Coverage in percentage determined as proportion of total population I.1.2.3 Survey Team The survey team comprised of the following specialists: Senior anthropologist, who was responsible for collecting information on cultural aspects through focus group discussions; Senior sociologist, who was responsible for collecting information on the socioeconomic conditions by overseeing implementation of the settlement and household surveys; Junior sociologist to assist the senior sociologist in collecting household and settlement level information on socioeconomic conditions; Female sociologist, who was responsible for collecting socioeconomic and cultural information on women of the communities through focus group discussions; Field assistants to assist in field logistics and conduct household surveys. The staff was conversant in Dhatki and Sindhi, the local languages spoken in the Study Area, and was familiar with the local culture and traditions. I.1.2.4 Limitations The survey was conducted in the month of August, which coincides with the cultivating season of the communities. Availability of informants for focus group discussions and surveys was limited. Secondary data was used to supplement the primary data in areas where gaps were observed. I.2 Demography Sindh province forms 18% of Pakistan‘s land mass and is home to 24% of the country‘s population. Following Balochistan, it is the country‘s second most sparsely populated Hagler Bailly Pakistan Appendix I R3E03TCO: 04/30/13 I-5 ESIA of Block VI Lignite Mining Project province, with a population density of 299 people per square kilometer. The population is concentrated along the banks of the Indus River, which flows across the length of the Sindh province. I.2.1 Population under 1998 Census The last census of Pakistan was conducted in 1998. The next census, scheduled for 2008, could not be held. Therefore, the demographic information following 1998 is based on surveys and estimated on the basis of intercensal growth rates. The census reports detailed data against the various administrative tiers into which the country is divided. These administrative tiers are described in detail in Section I.4.

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