Regional: TAPI Gas Pipeline Project (Phase 1)
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Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Project Number: 52167-001 December 2020 Regional: TAPI Gas Pipeline Project (Phase 1) Pakistan: Main (Parts 6.7 to 6.9) Prepared by the TAPI Pipeline Company Limited for the Asian Development Bank. This environmental and social impact assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Your attention is directed to the “terms of use” section on ADB’s website. In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. 6 ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL BASELINE 6.7 Cultural Heritage 6.7.1 Overview Following IFC PS8: Cultural Heritage (2012), this section identifies potential archaeology and cultural heritage sites potentially affected by the Project. Consideration has been taken for changes that may occur during the planning, construction, commissioning/start-up, operation, and decommissioning phases. In the context of this ESIA study, archaeological resources refer to any material remains or physical evidence of past human life or activities, including the record of the effects of human activities on the environment (NPS, 2004). Cultural heritage includes monuments, groups of buildings, and areas with outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological, or anthropological point of view (UNESCO, 2020). Additionally, IFC PS 8 (2012) further defines cultural heritage as follows: · Tangible forms of cultural heritage, such as tangible moveable or immovable objects, property, sites, structures, or groups of structures, having archaeological (prehistoric), paleontological, historical, cultural, artistic, and religious values; · Unique natural features or tangible objects that embody cultural values, such as sacred groves, rocks, lakes, and waterfalls; and · Certain instances of intangible forms of culture that are proposed to be used for commercial purposes, such as cultural knowledge, innovations, and practices of communities embodying traditional lifestyles. The PAI for cultural heritage is 350 m either side of the construction ROW, AGIs, construction camps, access roads, and pipe yards. This covers areas of direct surface and subsurface disturbance and considers some reasonable zone (350 m) where indirect impacts are possible in relation to dust emissions. 6.7.2 Approach to Secondary Baseline Data Collection (Desktop Study) A preliminary desk-based research exercise has been carried out using the following sources: · Literature review including examination of readily available web resources; · The TAPI Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment of 2015 (Penspen, 2015); · The Route Selection Report-Pakistan of 2017 (ILF, 2017); and · Law on the Protection of Historical and Cultural Properties, UNESCO World Heritage Center website. ESIA_Pakistan_Chapter_6.7_Cultural_Heritage Page 6.7-1 These sources reported that no archaeological or cultural heritage site has been identified within the ROW. 6.7.3 Approach to Primary Baseline Data Collection (Field Survey) This baseline assessment is based on meetings with relevant authorities and a field survey, all conducted between March and August 2018 by a local team of specialists. This subsection describes the approach for the baseline cultural heritage survey, which is detailed in Appendix B2. Field Work Action Plan. 6.7.3.1 Survey Strategy Since there is limited secondary data available, interviews with local authorities and a site reconnaissance visit along the PAI were conducted. Interviews were also conducted with community representatives to collect specific information on tangible and intangible assets during the social/resettlement data gathering surveys at the village level. The site reconnaissance visit was performed along the pipeline route, with the cultural heritage survey team accompanying the physical environment survey team, performing visual observations of the PAI and collecting evidence of any potential tangible resources along the pipeline route. 6.7.3.2 Survey Methodology 6.7.3.2.1 Interviews with Authorities A preliminary review of available online data indicated that up-to-date national level information is limited in Pakistan, with the majority of data held by local authorities. Before initiating the field survey, meetings with officials of the Punjab and Balochistan Archaeology Departments were conducted. These meetings proved helpful in the subsequent field survey, allowing the survey team to focus on known sites during the site reconnaissance visit and detail their proximity to the Project. The following specific meetings were held: · Meeting with senior officers of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of the Punjab; · Meeting with the Director, Curator, and other senior officers of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Balochistan; · Meeting with the Director of Department of Tourism, Government of Balochistan; and · Meeting with the Assistant Commissioner and Patwari of the Loralai District. 6.7.3.2.2 Interviews with Communities Interviews were held with local community representatives, principally elders, to identify and gather baseline information on tangible and intangible resources. A total of 175 adults (local residents) were interviewed using the technique of Informal or ESIA_Pakistan_Chapter_6.7_Cultural_Heritage Page 6.7-2 Conventional Interview (further detail is included in Chapter 11. Stakeholder Engagement). 6.7.3.2.3 Site Reconnaissance Visit The site reconnaissance visit was conducted by qualified archaeologists between July 29th and August 7th, 2018 along the pipeline route during the physical environment survey. Attention was given to unusual mounds or depressions in the ground, which could not be readily interpreted as naturally occurring or of obviously recent construction. Most typically, these features are indicative of possible tomb or burial ground sites. This resulted in a solid understanding of the potential for significant archaeological interest along the pipeline route. Visual observations of the PAI were obtained and evidence was collected of known and unrecorded tangible resources along the corridor. The results of the site reconnaissance visit are included in this section. 6.7.3.2.4 Site Walkover Site walkovers were conducted at all known archaeological sites, as well as those sites identified from the satellite imagery and any further sites identified while in the field. The walkovers documented archaeological sites and spot finds using field forms. The information included the geographical position (coordinates recorded to local or international standards), a brief written description, and other relevant information. All primary data was logged and archived. Surface finds were only removed from sites if they were of diagnostic value in terms of establishing a chronology, significantly enhancing the understanding of any aspect of the material culture of individual sites, or if they were in some way under threat from either natural or anthropogenic processes. No additional intrusive excavation or trial- trenching work was carried out during the course of the survey. 6.7.3.2.5 Study Area For the tangible resources, the survey study area was limited to a distance in which there was potential relevant direct surface or subsurface disturbance and taking into account some reasonable zone (250 m) where indirect impacts were possible in relation to dust emissions. Based on this consideration, the study area was evaluated to extend to 250 m either side of construction ROW, AGI, construction camp, access roads, or a pipe yard. For the intangible resources, the study area was strictly correlated to the potential impacts on affected communities and considered to be within 250 m of each side of the pipeline ROW, within 100 m of an access road (that is, a 200 m corridor width), or within a 250 m radius of a large AGI or a construction camp. The PAI for cultural heritage is 350 m either side of the construction ROW, AGIs, construction camps, access roads, or pipe yards. This cultural heritage PAI equates ESIA_Pakistan_Chapter_6.7_Cultural_Heritage Page 6.7-3 to a 700 m corridor along the ROW. This PAI covers areas of direct surface and subsurface disturbance and considers some reasonable zone (350 m) where indirect impacts are possible in relation to dust emissions. 6.7.3.2.6 QA/QC A suitably experienced and qualified local archaeologist, who is not a government employee, assisted in undertaking the survey. This individual had previous field experience of local archaeological and cultural heritage evaluation. Identifications were carried out generally in the field; however, photographs, field notes, and access to other local and international experts (whenever possible) were considered. 6.7.4 Historic and Cultural Heritage Context Archaeological evidence indicates that the region of modern-day Pakistan has been inhabited from at least 50,000 years ago, with the earliest finds uncovered in the Soan valley near Rawalpindi dating to this period. Evidence of agriculture and animal husbandry are apparent from 9,000 years ago, with the excavated remains of settled farming communities and tell-like mounds dating to 6,000 years ago (Jacobs, 2018). Crude quartzite hand axes and choppers