Bihar, Jharkhand sign MoU for sharing of Sone river water

The governments of Bihar and Jharkhand have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share the water resources of the Sone river. The agreement was formally signed by Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and his counterpart from Jharkhand, Hemant Soren, alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil.

This significant development comes after addressing a long-standing water dispute in eastern India. Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the agreement as an excellent example of Team Bharat vision and cooperative federalism, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The MoU will ensure a steady supply of water for irrigation and drinking purposes, benefiting millions of farmers and residents in districts such as Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, and Patna in Bihar.

Additionally, the agreement will provide ample water supply to Palamu, Garhwa, and other regions in Jharkhand. This marks the fourth water agreement among states this year, aiming to enhance water availability for irrigation, rural development, and drinking purposes. Notable agreements include a historic settlement of outstanding payments among Narmada Award beneficiary states Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, as well as agreements between Rajasthan and Haryana regarding the Yamuna Water Project, and the long-pending Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project, all chaired by the Union Home Minister.