Goa begins controlling Manganese level in Selaulim reservoir

Goa's Public Works department has begun an exercise to contain Manganese content in Selaulim reservoir, the water body that supplies potable water to 80 per cent of the state's population.
The PWD officials have started taking measures to reduce the Manganese level in the water after it was reported to be continuously on the higher side.
"While the permissible limit is 0.3 mg per litre, the content till yesterday was 1.8 mg per litre," PWD's Executive Engineer S R Paranjape told PTI today.
The attempts to control the Manganese content are showing results as the levels have dropped down from 2.8 mg last week to 1.8 mg, he said.

A chemical like lime is used to reduce the Manganese content, he said.
The 214 MLD capacity reservoir supplies treated potable water to majority of Goa.

The main cause of Manganese in water are the neighbouring pits of iron ore, staked along the Selaulim river which feeds water to this reservoir, situated 80 kms away from Panaji.
The state government records reveal that there are 13 mining leases located within 500 metre radius from Selaulim reservoir, of which three mining leases are within 200 m of radius.
Increased intake of Manganese can be harmful to brain.