Bihar and Jharkhand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to settle their nearly 25-year-old dispute over sharing the waters of the Sone River. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah.
The settlement is expected to improve the availability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes across several districts of both states and benefit lakhs of people, particularly farmers in rural areas.
Key Water-Sharing Arrangement
Under the new agreement:
- Bihar: 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF)
- Jharkhand: 2 million acre-feet (MAF)
Together, the two states will share the 7.75 MAF that had earlier been allocated to undivided Bihar.
Why Did the Dispute Arise?
The issue dates back to the 1973 Bansagar Agreement, under which the Sone River’s total 14.25 MAF of water was divided among three states:
| State | Allocation |
| Madhya Pradesh | 5.25 MAF |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1.25 MAF |
| Undivided Bihar | 7.75 MAF |
| Total | 14.25 MAF |
When Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in 2000, a dispute emerged between Bihar and Jharkhand over how the 7.75 MAF allocated to undivided Bihar should be divided. The disagreement remained unresolved for approximately 25 years.
The latest MoU finally provides a formal sharing arrangement.
Benefits for Bihar
The settlement is expected to ensure adequate water for irrigation and drinking in:
- Bhojpur, Gaya, Buxar, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Arwal, Patna, Rohtas
Benefits for Jharkhand
Jharkhand will gain improved access to Sone River water for agricultural irrigation and drinking requirements, particularly in Palamu, Garhwa and other regions.
Fourth Inter-State Water Agreement of 2026
The Sone River settlement is the fourth major inter-State water agreement of 2026, highlighting efforts to improve water availability for irrigation, rural development and drinking purposes.
Other Major Water Agreements in 2026
| Agreement/Settlement | States Involved | Date |
| Kishau Multipurpose Project | Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana & Rajasthan | 16 June 2026 |
| Yamuna Water Project | Rajasthan & Haryana | 29 June 2026 |
| Narmada Project Dues | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh | 7 July 2026 |
| Sone River Water Sharing | Bihar & Jharkhand | 2026 |