Bihar, Jharkhand Resolve 26-Year Sone River Water Dispute

A 26-year-old dispute over the sharing of Sone river water between Bihar and Jharkhand has been resolved. The two states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on Monday, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil.

The MoU was signed by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil. The agreement allocates 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of Sone river water to Bihar and 2 MAF to Jharkhand.

The dispute arose after Jharkhand was created as a separate state in 2000, and the issue of sharing Sone river water between the two states remained unresolved for over 25 years. The Bansagar Agreement, signed in 1973, had allocated 7.75 MAF of Sone river water to undivided Bihar.

The resolution of the dispute is expected to pave the way for the construction of the Indrapuri reservoir project, which will provide stable irrigation facilities to several districts in Bihar. The project will also boost irrigation, drinking water supply, and industrial development in the drought-prone and plateau regions of South Bihar and Jharkhand.

The agreement was reached after a consensus was reached between the two states at the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) in Ranchi last year. The Central Water Commission (CWC) prepared a draft MoU, which was circulated to both states for their approval.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for resolving the dispute. He called it a historic resolution in the interest of Bihar.

The resolution of the dispute is a significant step towards resolving the long-pending issue of Sone River water sharing between the two states. It is expected to bring relief to the people of Bihar and Jharkhand, who have been affected by the dispute for over two decades.

The Sone river is an important source of water for both Bihar and Jharkhand. The river flows through several districts in both states, and its water is used for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes.

The resolution of the dispute is also expected to boost the economy of both states. The construction of the Indrapuri reservoir project and other irrigation projects will create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the region.

In conclusion, the resolution of the 26-year-old dispute over the sharing of Sone river water between Bihar and Jharkhand is a significant achievement. It is expected to bring relief to the people of both states and boost the economy of the region.

The agreement is a result of the efforts of the central government and the state governments of Bihar and Jharkhand. It is a testament to the commitment of the government to resolve long-pending disputes and promote development in the region.

The resolution of the dispute will have a positive impact on the people of Bihar and Jharkhand. It will provide them with a stable source of water for irrigation, drinking, and industrial purposes, and will boost the economy of the region.

Overall, the resolution of the 26-year-old dispute over the sharing of Sone river water between Bihar and Jharkhand is a significant achievement that will have a positive impact on the people of both states.