NEW DELHI: In a significant development aimed at resolving a long-standing water dispute, Bihar and Jharkhand have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the sharing of Sone River waters. The agreement was finalized in the presence of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, marking a breakthrough in inter-state water management in eastern India.
The Chenab Times has learned that the pact, signed in the national capital, will ensure the equitable distribution of Sone River water for irrigation and drinking purposes, benefiting millions of farmers and residents across rural areas of both states. The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Bihar Samrat Choudhary, Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials from the central government and both state administrations.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauded the agreement as a testament to the ‘Team Bharat’ vision and cooperative federalism, championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that despite individual identities, states moving forward collectively can resolve any challenge. Shah highlighted this as the fourth inter-state water agreement facilitated this year, underscoring a national push towards enhanced water security for agricultural, rural development, and potable needs.
The accord effectively resolves a water-sharing dispute that has persisted for approximately 25 years. Shah stated that the dialogue-driven approach, rooted in cooperative federalism, has permanently settled issues pertaining to vast geographical regions, the agricultural community, rural infrastructure, and drinking water supplies in both Bihar and Jharkhand. This resolution is expected to bring substantial relief and development to the affected areas.
Specifically, the agreement ensures adequate water availability for drinking and irrigation in districts such as Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Arwal, Gaya, and Patna in Bihar. For Jharkhand, the distribution will benefit the Palamu, Garhwa, and surrounding regions, providing crucial resources for agricultural activities and daily consumption.
Both Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed their sincere gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their instrumental role in brokering the agreement and facilitating the resolution of the Sone River water-sharing issue.
The Union Home Ministry has been actively involved in resolving long-pending inter-state water disputes through the Inter-State Council. The Sone River agreement follows a series of successful pacts finalized this year. On July 7, 2023, an agreement was signed among Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh concerning outstanding payments related to the Narmada Award and the Sardar Sarovar Project. This settlement addressed cost-sharing issues that had remained unresolved for decades.
Earlier, on June 29, 2023, Rajasthan and Haryana reached an agreement for the construction and implementation of the Yamuna Water Project. This project is designed to convey approximately 580 million cubic meters of water from the Yamuna Canal to Rajasthan, ensuring the state’s allocated share of Yamuna water is effectively utilized, particularly for drinking water supply in arid regions and to foster socio-economic development.
Another significant accord was reached on June 16, 2023, concerning the Kishau Multipurpose Dam Project. Under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan agreed to an MoU for the project’s implementation. The Central Government is set to provide 90% funding for the water component as central assistance, with the participating states sharing the remaining 10% of the financial burden. This agreement also includes provisions for allocating Himachal Pradesh’s water share to Delhi and Rajasthan in exchange for their contribution to the project’s power component.
The Chenab Times News Desk