Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav Hails Son River Water-Sharing Agreement

Bihar Cooperative Minister and BJP MLA Ram Kripal Yadav on Tuesday welcomed the water-sharing agreement signed between Bihar and Jharkhand over the Sone River, saying the long-standing dispute had finally been resolved. He thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the chief ministers of both states for their efforts in settling the issue, which had affected irrigation in several villages for years.

Bihar and Jharkhand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on Monday, bringing an end to a 25-year-old disagreement over the distribution of Sone River water. As per the agreement, Bihar will receive 5.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of water, while Jharkhand has been allocated 2.00 MAF.

Yadav, who is the MLA from Danapur, said the prolonged dispute had caused considerable losses and left many villages without sufficient irrigation facilities. Welcoming the agreement, he expressed his appreciation for the role played by the Centre and the governments of both states in finding a solution. The MoU was signed in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Paatil, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary. Senior officials from the central and state governments also attended the ceremony.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their proactive involvement and continued discussions in resolving the issue. He said the agreement represented more than just an arrangement for sharing water and could usher in a new phase of cooperation, trust and development between Bihar and Jharkhand.

The dispute originated after Jharkhand was created in 2000. Under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement, the then-undivided Bihar was entitled to 7.75 MAF out of the Sone River's total 14.25 MAF allocation. Following the bifurcation of Bihar, disagreements emerged over how the existing share should be divided between the two states.

A breakthrough was achieved during the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council in Ranchi in July 2025, when Bihar and Jharkhand reached a consensus on the distribution of the river's water. The latest agreement is expected to improve water availability in drought-prone and plateau regions of South Bihar and Jharkhand. It could help expand irrigation, address drinking-water shortages and support industrial growth while providing greater long-term water security to both states.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.