MoU Signed on Sone River Water Sharing; Bihar Allocated 5.75 MAF and Jharkhand 2.00 MAF
Chief Minister Expresses Gratitude to Prime Minister and Union Home Minister
Patna, Sept 2026: The 25-year-old dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand over the sharing of water from the Sone River has been resolved. An agreement was signed between the two states in New Delhi through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, along with senior officials from both states and the Central Government, were present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister expressed special gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the historic agreement. He said the long-pending and complex issue could be resolved because of their active efforts, continuous dialogue and effective mediation.
He said the agreement was not merely about water sharing, but marked a new chapter of cooperation, trust and shared development between Bihar and Jharkhand.
Background of the Dispute
The Chief Minister said that under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement, out of the total 14.25 million acre-feet (MAF) of Sone River water, 5.25 MAF was allocated to Madhya Pradesh, 1.25 MAF to Uttar Pradesh and 7.75 MAF to undivided Bihar.
After the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, a dispute arose between Bihar and Jharkhand over the division of the 7.75 MAF share originally allocated to undivided Bihar. The dispute remained unresolved for the past 25 years.
He said significant consensus was reached on the issue at the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council, held in Ranchi on July 10, 2025, under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Subsequently, discussions were held at various levels and technical consultations were undertaken. These efforts ultimately resulted in the agreement being finalised.
Bihar to Receive 5.75 MAF, Jharkhand 2.00 MAF
Under the new agreement, formal consensus has been reached to allocate 5.75 MAF of Sone River water to Bihar and 2.00 MAF to Jharkhand.
The agreement is expected to significantly improve water availability, particularly in the drought-prone and plateau regions of southern Bihar and Jharkhand.
It will facilitate the expansion of irrigation facilities, reduce drinking-water shortages and provide fresh momentum to industrial development. The agreement will also help ensure the long-term water security of both states.
Sone-Falgu River Link and Reservoir Projects to Get Momentum
The Chief Minister said that following the agreement, work can be accelerated on proposed projects for the construction of reservoirs and linking the Sone River with the Falgu River, enabling better utilisation of Sone River water.
These projects are expected to increase water availability in several areas of southern Bihar, including Gaya.
Adequate water in the Falgu River will also benefit devotees arriving from across the country and abroad during the Pitru Paksha Mela, particularly by facilitating rituals such as tarpan and pindadan.
Significance for Eastern India
The Chief Minister said the Sone is a major southern tributary of the Ganga and its catchment area is extremely important for agriculture and economic activities in eastern India.
Therefore, the agreement has significance not only for Bihar and Jharkhand but also for water management and regional development across eastern India.
He expressed gratitude to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Jharkhand Government and all officials and experts involved in the process.
He said complex inter-state issues can be resolved permanently through a spirit of cooperative dialogue.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the agreement will prove highly beneficial for farmers, citizens and future generations in the coming years.
