Bihar and Jharkhand to Sign Water-Sharing Agreement for Sone River

Bihar and Jharkhand are set to sign a formal agreement on August 31, 2026, settling the sharing of Sone river waters and putting an end to a dispute that has lingered for nearly 25 years since Jharkhand's formation. The chief ministers of both states will be present for the signing, along with the Union Jal Shakti Minister.

What Is the 25-Year-Old Sone River Dispute Between Bihar and Jharkhand?

The roots of this dispute trace back to November 2000, when Jharkhand was carved out of undivided Bihar. Before the split, Sone River water sharing was governed by the 1973 Bansagar Agreement, signed between Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and undivided Bihar, which had allocated a fixed quantity of water to Bihar. However, once Jharkhand became a separate state, there was no clear formula for how Bihar's original share should be divided between the two new states. This gap remained unresolved for over two decades, creating friction over water usage rights along the river.

Bihar Cabinet Approves Indrapuri Reservoir Project, Water-Sharing Agreement with Jharkhand

To finally resolve the matter, the central government formed a committee under the Central Water Commission, which worked with representatives from both state governments to arrive at a fair distribution formula. The committee's recommendation was accepted unanimously, paving the way for Bihar's cabinet to approve the water-sharing arrangement along with related water infrastructure planning to make better use of its allocated share.

Bihar and Jharkhand’s Sone River MoU: Key Highlights

1. Under the new agreement, out of the total 7.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of Sone River water originally allocated to undivided Bihar, Bihar will now receive 5.75 MAF, while Jharkhand will get the remaining 2.0 MAF. 
2. Both states had already completed their internal approvals well before the signing, with Jharkhand clearing the matter in its cabinet in July and Bihar's paperwork finalised shortly after. 
3. The Union Jal Shakti Ministry coordinated the process, ensuring formal consent from both sides before scheduling the signing ceremony. 
4. This agreement not only settles a long-standing inter-state water dispute but also sets a clear, mutually accepted framework for future water management between the two states.