High ore content restricts Selaulim drinking water supply

PTI, PANAJI | 10 July 2012 19:10 IST

PWD has restricted water supply of Selaulim due to high content of managanese being found in potable water.

PWD today restricted water supply to Mormugao and Salcette taluka after the water in Selaulim treatment plant was found with high manganese content.

The Selaulim treatment plant is located in South Goa and processes around 160-180 million metric tones of water daily.

The high content of manganese ore has affected the treatment facility at the reservoir.

PWD officials confirmed that only 145-150 million metric tonnes of water can be treated daily due to high manganese presence, forcing restricted water supply to two major talukas of Mormugao and Salcette, which are dependent on this water for drinking purpose.

PWD executive engineer S R Paranjape, in-charge of the facility, said manganese content has gone up six folds from the usual 0.5 mg to 3.0 mg as the mining dumps stacked along side the rivers feeding water to the reservoir are getting washed into it due to rains.

Paranjpe said it is difficult to control the run-off as it has been coming from several places. As per government records, there are 19 mines located within 500 metres of Selaulim water reservoir, of which 17 are within 200 metres.

Goa Legislative Assembly's adhoc committee on forests had in the past suggested that water quality in Selaulim dam be monitored as mining rejects from nearby dumps flow into it.

"The government should have an appropriate mechanism to undertake regular inspections and monitor the activities of the mining companies to prevent the flow of mining rejects in river bodies, especially in the vicinity of Selaulim dam at Sanguem," the panel headed by then BJP legislator and current health minister, Laxmikant Parsekar had stated.


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