Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Bihar, Jharkhand Sign Sone River Water-Sharing MoU
Bihar and Jharkhand have disagreed for many years about sharing Sone River water.
They have now signed an agreement to settle the dispute.
The agreement gives 5.75 million acre-feet to undivided Bihar’s share and 2 million acre-feet to Jharkhand.
The disagreement began after Jharkhand was created as a separate state in 2000.
The Central Water Commission prepared the agreement’s draft.
Both state governments approved the draft before signing it.
The deal could help build the Indrapuri reservoir.
It may also improve irrigation and drinking-water supplies in Bihar and Jharkhand.
The Son-Phalgu river-linking project is also expected to move forward.
Bihar and Jharkhand signed an MoU in New Delhi to share Sone River water and settle a 26-year dispute.
The agreement allocates 5.75 million acre-feet to undivided Bihar’s share and 2 million acre-feet to Jharkhand.
The dispute emerged after Jharkhand became a separate state from Bihar in 2000.
The Central Water Commission prepared the draft MoU after both states reached consensus at an Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi.
The agreement is expected to support irrigation, drinking-water supply, the Indrapuri reservoir and the Son-Phalgu river-linking project.
- Who
- The governments of Bihar and Jharkhand, represented by Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Hemant Soren, with Union ministers Amit Shah and C R Patil.
- What
- They signed a memorandum of understanding for sharing Sone River water between the two states.
- When
- The MoU was signed on Monday; the allocation consensus was reached on July 10 last year.
- Where
- The MoU was signed at Kartavya Bhavan in New Delhi, after an earlier Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi.
- Why
- To resolve a dispute that began after Jharkhand became a separate state and to support irrigation, drinking-water and reservoir projects.
- Dispute duration
- 26 years, or more than 25 years
- Bihar allocation
- 5.75 million acre-feet of Sone River water
- Jharkhand allocation
- 2 million acre-feet of Sone River water
- Earlier agreement
- The 1973 Bansagar Agreement allocated 14.25 million acre-feet among Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and undivided Bihar.
- Signing location
- Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi
- Key project
- The agreement is expected to advance the Indrapuri reservoir project in Bihar.
- Additional benefits
- Irrigation, drinking-water supply, industrial development and the Son-Phalgu river-linking project are expected to benefit.
