Goa’s largest reservoir, providing potable water to almost 80 per cent of the population, is polluted with mining rejects. As a result, the Public Works Department (PWD) on Tuesday restricted supply to some talukas, sources here said.

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

The treatment plant is located in South Goa and processes around 160-180 million tonnes of water daily and the high content of manganese ore has affected the treatment facility at the reservoir.

PWD executive engineer Mr S.R Paranjape, in-charge of the facility, said manganese content has gone up six-fold 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.

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