Bihar and Jharkhand sign historic Son River water-sharing agreement

The governments of Bihar and Jharkhand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi to resolve a long-standing dispute over the sharing of Son River waters. The agreement, signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, ends a standoff that has lasted approximately 25 to 26 years.

Under the terms of the settlement, Bihar will receive between 5.57 and 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of water, while Jharkhand is allocated 2.00 MAF. The dispute originated following the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, as the new state sought a share of the water previously allocated to the undivided state of Bihar under the 1973 Bansagar Project.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary stated that the resolution is a “historic achievement” that will benefit farmers, strengthen agriculture, and boost irrigation and industrial development in drought-prone regions. The agreement is expected to facilitate progress on stalled infrastructure, such as the Indrapuri Reservoir Project, by resolving previous objections regarding water rights.