Chhattisgarh opens 7 gates of Kalma barrage

Bhubaneswar: The Chhattisgarh government on Tuesday opened seven gates of Kalma barrage following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment area of
Mahanadi river.
Earlier this month, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to his Chhattisgarh counterpart Raman Singh, seeking immediate opening of the gates of the barrage to ensure free flow of water in the river.
Getting no response from Chhattisgarh government, the CM had apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the matter.
Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also urged Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti to advise the Chhattisgarh government to open the Kalma barrage gates as stopping the water flow had caused acute water scarcity in the downstream areas.