World · India Bureau
Bihar and Jharkhand resolve long-standing Sone River water dispute
The two eastern states have reached an agreement on sharing waters from the Sone River, ending a contentious dispute that has persisted since India's reorganization of Bihar in 2000. Bihar has been allocated 5.75 million acre-feet while Jharkhand receives 2 million acre-feet from the total 7.75 million acre-feet originally designated for undivided Bihar under a 1973 accord.
LSN India ·
Bihar and Jharkhand have signed an agreement to resolve their longstanding disagreement over the allocation of Sone River water, marking a significant breakthrough in interstate water-sharing negotiations in eastern India.
According to Bihar Chief Minister's statement, Bihar has been allocated 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from the river, while Jharkhand will receive 2 MAF. The two states had been at loggerheads over how to divide 7.75 MAF of water that was originally allocated to undivided Bihar under an agreement dated 1973.
The dispute between the two states intensified following Bihar's bifurcation in 2000, when Jharkhand was carved out as a separate state. The absence of a clear water-sharing formula for the newly created state led to tensions and legal wrangling over rightful allocation from the Sone, a significant tributary of the Ganges.
The agreement represents a cooperative approach between the two governments to address resource management in the eastern region. The Sone River basin supports agriculture and irrigation across the states, making the settlement crucial for agricultural planning and water security in both regions.
The accord is expected to facilitate better water management practices and provide clarity for irrigation and development projects that depend on the river's flow across Bihar and Jharkhand.