Bihar and Jharkhand are scheduled to sign a water-sharing agreement for the Sone river on 31 August 2026. The pact ends a 25-year dispute that began after Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in November 2000.
Sone River Water Allocation
The final formula allocates 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of water to Bihar and 2.0 MAF to Jharkhand. The total allocation of 7.75 MAF corresponds to the share originally assigned to undivided Bihar under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement.
Bansagar Agreement and River Basin Context
The Bansagar Agreement was signed in 1973 by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and undivided Bihar. The Sone river is a major tributary of the Ganga and supports irrigation in the eastern plains of India.
Institutional Mediation and Project Linkages
The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti mediated the settlement through a committee chaired by the Central Water Commission (CWC). A key breakthrough came at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting held on 10 July 2025 in Ranchi, which was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Sone river is one of the largest southern tributaries of the Ganga river system.
- The Central Water Commission is a technical organisation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- The Eastern Zonal Council includes Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal.
- The Indrapuri Reservoir Project is linked to irrigation planning on the Sone river.
Cabinet Approval and Irrigation Benefits
The Bihar Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, approved the draft agreement on 13 January 2026. The pact is linked to the Sone canal system and irrigation in Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Patna, Gaya, and Arwal districts.
