Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today sought Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti's intervention over Mahanadi water sharing dispute between his state and neighbouring Chhattisgarh. <br/><br/>In a letter Mr. Pradhan, appealed Uma Bharti to advise the Chhattisgarh government to open the gates of Kalma barrage to ensure free flow of water in the Mahanadi River. The Petroleum Minister's letter has mentioned that non-monsoon water flow into Hirakud Reservoir received from the upper catchment of Mahanadi basin is showing a significant downward trend. The percentage reduction has alarmingly gone up to 78 per cent in the month of May this year. The letter also said, if this trend is allowed to continue, there will be near stoppage of flow of water into the Hirakud Reservoir. <br/><br/>People living in downward catchment area will face sever water crisis, the letter said. Last week Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct the Chhattisgarh government to stop the construction of barrages on Mahanadi river and to open the gates of Kalma and other barrages to maintain the free flow of water downstream which is the rightful claim of Odisha.