Patna: A 26-year-old dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand over the sharing of Sone River water has been resolved following an agreement reached between the two states, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said on Monday.
Choudhary announced the development in a social media post, describing the agreement as a significant achievement for Bihar and its farmers.
Agreement reached in New Delhi
According to Choudhary, a meeting was held in New Delhi under the leadership of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to address the long-standing dispute.
Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren also attended the meeting, where a consensus was reached on the sharing of Sone River water.
Choudhary said the agreement would increase the availability of water for irrigation in Bihar, potentially strengthening agricultural production and improving irrigation facilities for farmers.
He described the resolution of the dispute as a major development in Bihar’s interest while noting that the agreement would also benefit people in Jharkhand.
Irrigation in several Bihar districts expected to benefit
The Sone River is an important southern tributary of the Ganga and plays a significant role in the irrigation network of southern Bihar.
The agreement is expected to provide greater stability to irrigation schemes linked to the Son canal system.
Districts including Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Patna, Gaya and Arwal are expected to benefit from improved water availability.
For farmers dependent on irrigation from the Sone canal network, a more stable arrangement over water sharing could have implications for agricultural productivity and the reliability of irrigation supplies.
Choudhary thanks Centre
Choudhary expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their role in resolving the long-running dispute.
He described the settlement as a historic outcome in the interest of Bihar and said it would contribute to agriculture and development in the state.
Beyond the immediate question of water allocation, the agreement also represents an example of inter-state cooperation and river-basin management, with implications for agricultural planning and irrigation in the region.
The practical impact of the agreement will depend on its implementation and the manner in which water-sharing arrangements are subsequently carried out.
