Bihar, Jharkhand sign pact to resolve 25-year-old Sone water dispute

Bihar and Jharkhand on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to share 7.75 million acre-feet of water from the Sone River, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, "permanently resolving" the nearly 25-year-old water dispute between the two states, officials said.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bihar Chief Minister 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 the two states were present at the signing ceremony.

In a post on X, Shah said the agreement would ensure adequate irrigation and drinking water for large populations in Bihar and Jharkhand.

"It will directly benefit lakhs of farmers in both states and give new momentum to the development of rural areas.

If all states move forward as one team, there is no problem that cannot be resolved," he said.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shah said the agreement to resolve the nearly 25-year-o