Abstract
Ground vibration (V max ) and air-overpressure/noise (p) are some of the negative effects of blasting. The associated human annoyance and complaints are expected to show an increasing trend in the future as there is no economically viable alternative to blasting in mines in India.
A study of the human response to blasting in four mining localities across India has shown that the response is not simply political, as frequently assumed. It has been found that irrespective of those questioned, a basic concern for the safety of property was the main response. There was a greater response from the middle-aged and middle-educated while fewer women than men responded. Assuming that a 100% negative response from the inhabitants will translate into complaints, a methodology is suggested to take account of the human response criteria when considering blasting within 400 m of habitations.
Résumé
Les vibrations sismiques (V max ) et les ondes aériennes de surpression (p) font partie des effets négatifs de l’abattage à l’explosif. A l’avenir on doit s’attendre à l’expression d’un mécontentement croissant des populations dans la mesure où il n’existe guère de méthodes alternatives à l’abattage à l’explosif dans les mines indiennes.
Une étude des réactions humaines aux opérations d’abattage à l’explosif, dans quatre localités minières de l’Inde, a montré que ces réactions ne sont pas simplement politiques comme cela est souvent affirmé. Il a été montré que quelque soient les personnes interrogées, des préoccupations essentielles concernaient la sécurité des biens. Les plus fortes réactions provenaient des classes d’âge intermédiaires et des populations de niveau d’éducation moyen. Considérant que ces réactions négatives se traduiraient par des plaintes des habitants, une méthodologie a été proposée, prenant en compte ces réactions négatives dans un rayon de 400 m autour de la zone de travaux d’abattage à l’explosif.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for funding the study. Thanks are due to Prof. B. B. Dhar (Ex-Director, Central Mining Research Institute, India) and Prof. Gurdeep Singh (Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad), to the managements of Manganese Ore India Limited, Gujrat Ambuja Cements Limited and Ambuja Cements Eastern Limited for their help and cooperation. Permission to publish the results by Director Central Mining Research Institute is acknowledged.
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Raina, A.K., Haldar, A., Chakraborty, A.K. et al. Human response to blast-induced vibration and air-overpressure: an Indian scenario. Bull Eng Geol Environ 63, 209–214 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0228-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-004-0228-7