Bihar, Jharkhand set to sign MoU for sharing Sone river waters

Bihar and Jharkhand will sign a memorandum of understanding formalizing the sharing of Sone river waters, ending a dispute since Jharkhand's creation in 2000.

The Union government is finalizing a date for the signing ceremony, expected in August 2026, with the Union Jal Shakti Minister and both chief ministers present.

Out of the total 7.75 million acre-feet (MAF) allocated to undivided Bihar under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement, Bihar will now receive 5.75 MAF and Jharkhand 2.0 MAF.

The allocation follows the unanimous recommendation of a committee chaired by the Central Water Commission, with consent from both state governments.