New Delhi, August 31: Bihar and Jharkhand on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the sharing of water from the Son River, in a move aimed at resolving a long-standing interstate water dispute and improving water availability for irrigation and drinking purposes.
The agreement was signed in New Delhi in the presence of Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, senior officials from the Centre and both states were present at the event.
The Centre described the agreement as a significant settlement of a dispute that has remained unresolved for around 25 years. The arrangement is expected to benefit large rural areas of both Bihar and Jharkhand by improving access to water for agriculture and household consumption.
In Bihar, the agreement is expected to support water availability in Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya and Patna districts. In Jharkhand, Palamu, Garhwa and other areas are expected to benefit from improved availability for irrigation and drinking water.
आज नई दिल्ली में बिहार और झारखंड के बीच सोन नदी के 7.75 मिलियन एकड़-फीट जल बंटवारे से संबंधित समझौते पर हस्ताक्षर किए गए। लगभग 25 वर्षों से लंबित पूर्वी भारत के इस जल विवाद का समाधान मोदी जी द्वारा दी गई 'टीम भारत' की परिकल्पना और सहकारी संघवाद का उत्कृष्ट उदाहरण है।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 31, 2026
इस समझौते… pic.twitter.com/zAduIqBZpX
Shah termed the agreement an example of cooperative federalism and the “Team Bharat” approach, under which states work collectively to resolve issues involving shared resources.
He said dialogue and cooperation between states can help settle complex issues that have remained pending for years.
The minister also highlighted the role of the Inter-State Council in facilitating discussions and finding solutions to interstate water-related matters.The Centre said the Son River agreement is the fourth major water-related settlement between states reached this year as part of efforts to resolve long-pending issues.
Earlier this year, an agreement involving Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra addressed outstanding financial matters related to the Sardar Sarovar Project.
Another agreement between Rajasthan and Haryana concerned the implementation of a Yamuna water project, while a separate understanding was reached among six states regarding the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project.
The latest Bihar-Jharkhand agreement is expected to strengthen coordination between the two states in managing shared water resources and could provide greater certainty for irrigation and drinking-water planning in the affected regions.
Both Chief Ministers expressed their appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for facilitating the settlement of the Son River water-sharing issue.
