Bihar Cabinet Approves Sone River Water Sharing Deal with Jharkhand, Paves Way for Indrapuri Reservoir

Bihar Cabinet Greenlights Sone River Water Sharing Pact with Jharkhand

The Bihar cabinet made a significant decision on Tuesday. It approved a resolution to settle the interstate water dispute with Jharkhand over the Sone river. This move effectively removes the main obstacle blocking the construction of the Indrapuri reservoir in Rohtas district.

Details of the Water Sharing Agreement

Under the newly approved resolution, Bihar will receive 5.75 million acre feet (MAF) of water from the Sone river. Jharkhand will get 2 MAF. The agreement stems from a deal reached at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired that meeting on July 10 last year.

Bihar's case was presented by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Water Resources Department Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary. The resolution is expected to significantly enhance irrigation capabilities in south Bihar.

Historical Context of the Dispute

The conflict over Sone river water dates back to the formation of Jharkhand in November 2000. According to the 1973 Vansagar agreement, undivided Bihar was entitled to 7.75 MAF of water. After the bifurcation, sharing this allocated water became a contentious issue between the two states.

Former Jharkhand chief engineer Vijay Shankar, who retired in April last year, welcomed the settlement. He called it a pragmatic solution to a long-fought battle. Shankar explained that Bihar was already using 5.5 MAF of water. The dispute centered on the remaining capacity.

"Ultimately, the power to decide rested with the Central Water Commission," Shankar said. "Later, at the highest levels, the government decided to cede some claims in the larger interest. Whatever decision has been taken is welcome for both states."

Impact on Indrapuri Reservoir Project

Cabinet Secretariat Department Additional Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar Choudhary addressed reporters after the meeting. He stated that resolving the water dispute has cleared the primary hurdle. This paves the way for building the long-pending Indrapuri reservoir in Rohtas district.

Water from this reservoir will irrigate agricultural land across eight districts:

Bhojpur
Buxar
Rohtas
Kaimur
Aurangabad
Patna
Gaya
Arwal

Reactions from Jharkhand

Jharkhand Water Resources Minister Hafizul Hassan said he just learned about the decision. He plans to comment after receiving proper feedback. Water Resources Department Secretary Prashant Kumar was unavailable for comment.

A source familiar with the matter confirmed the sharing formula was agreed upon during the last Eastern Zonal Council meeting in Ranchi.

Other Cabinet Approvals

The Bihar cabinet also cleared several other proposals during Tuesday's session:

Logistics Park near Darbhanga Airport: Sanctioned Rs 138.82 crore to acquire 50.0004 acres of land for developing a logistics park and cargo hub. This aims to boost air cargo movement for agricultural products from Mithila and north Bihar.
New Government Posts: Approved the creation of 956 new posts across various departments.
Bihar Bhavan in Mumbai: Sanctioned Rs 314 crore for constructing Bihar Bhavan in Mumbai.
Prison Infrastructure: Cleared funds for CCTV installation and infrastructure upgrades in state jails.
Industrial Investments: Approved industrial investment proposals in Begusarai, Vaishali, and Rohtas districts.
Urban Local Bodies: Approved distribution of professional tax proceeds among urban local bodies.
Education Funding: Cleared funding under PM Shree Yojana for implementing NEP-2020 in selected schools.
Road Projects: Approved road widening projects in Supaul district.
Housing Allotment: Approved allotment of houses from the central pool to eligible public representatives.