Bihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Sone River Water Dispute with MoU

Bihar and Jharkhand officially resolved their nearly 25-year-old dispute over Sone River water on Monday, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This agreement, witnessed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, allocates 7.75 million acre-feet of water from the river to both states.

This significant pact is expected to ensure adequate irrigation and drinking water for a large population in both states, providing new momentum to rural development.

Understanding the Decades-Old Conflict

The long-standing disagreement began in 2000 following Jharkhand’s creation from Bihar. Jharkhand subsequently demanded a greater share of water from the Bansagar project, citing a significant portion of its catchment area now within its borders.

Bihar, however, maintained its claim based on a 1973 agreement which included Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and the undivided Bihar state. This historical context formed the bedrock of the protracted negotiations between the two states.

Key Aspects of the Agreement

The new pact is designed to guarantee sufficient irrigation and drinking water for a substantial population across both Bihar and Jharkhand. Union Home Minister Amit Shah underscored the agreement as a prime example of cooperative federalism.

• The total water allocation from the Sone River is 7.75 million acre-feet.
• The resolution comes after nearly 25 years of dispute.
• The agreement was signed on Monday.

A Trend Towards Interstate Resolution

Amit Shah highlighted this as the fourth water-related pact between states this year, demonstrating a growing trend of resolving long-pending inter-state water disputes. These resolutions are often facilitated through the Inter-State Council.

Other significant water agreements reached this year include:

• July 7: Settlement of outstanding payments among ‘Narmada Award’ beneficiary states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
• June 29: An agreement between Rajasthan and Haryana concerning the Yamuna Water Project.
• June 16: Consensus on the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project, involving Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Benefitting Millions Across Regions

The agreement is projected to deliver crucial irrigation and drinking water resources to numerous districts. This direct impact is expected to provide new impetus for rural development.

Specific regions slated to benefit include:

• Bihar: Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, and Patna.
• Jharkhand: Palamu, Garhwa, and other unnamed regions.