Bihar, Jharkhand sign pact to share Sone river water
Bihar and Jharkhand signed an MoU on Monday to share Sone river water, resolving a long-pending dispute.
In a significant step toward resolving a long-standing inter-state water dispute, Bihar and Jharkhand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday for the sharing of Sone river water. The agreement was formalised by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and his Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil.
Speaking after the signing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah described the pact as a resolution to a long-awaited water dispute in eastern India. He noted that the agreement would provide irrigation water to lakhs of farmers across large rural areas of both states, while also ensuring drinking water for the local population.
The Union Home Ministry stated that the agreement is expected to secure adequate water for drinking and irrigation purposes in the Bihar districts of Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, and Patna. In Jharkhand, the benefits would extend to Palamu, Garhwa, and other regions.
Shah termed the agreement an "excellent example" of the 'Team Bharat' vision and cooperative federalism championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted that this is the fourth water agreement between states concluded this year, aimed at enhancing water availability for irrigation, rural development, and drinking purposes.
Earlier this year, similar agreements were reached among the 'Narmada Award' beneficiary states, between Rajasthan and Haryana for the Yamuna Water Project, and a consensus was achieved on the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project.