Bihar and Jharkhand are set to sign a long-awaited agreement on sharing the waters of the Sone River. The move will formally settle a dispute that has continued since Jharkhand became a separate state in 2000. The Union government is now working to finalise a date for the signing ceremony after both states completed all required approvals.

A senior official from the Union Jal Shakti Ministry said the agreement could be signed very soon. The official confirmed that both states have completed their part of the process. “The signing can come any day now as matters have been resolved at both ends. Jharkhand passed the matter in its cabinet earlier this month. Our paperwork is also ready; all that needs to be done is get everyone’s time aligned so it can be signed,” the official said, requesting anonymity.

An Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on July 14, accessed by HT, stated that Bihar and Jharkhand have formally agreed to execute the agreement. The ministry proposed that the signing take place in August. Union Jal Shakti Minister and the chief ministers of both states are expected to attend the ceremony. The memorandum added that the ministry will announce the date, time and venue separately.

The agreement will settle the division of the water allocation that the undivided state of Bihar received under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement. Out of the total 7.75 million acre-feet (MAF) of Sone River water allocated to the former Bihar, Bihar will now receive 5.75 MAF. Jharkhand will receive the remaining 2.0 MAF.

The Centre finalised this allocation after accepting the unanimous recommendation of a committee led by the Central Water Commission. The committee was formed to resolve the long-pending issue. It included representatives from both Bihar and Jharkhand. After reaching a common recommendation, the committee submitted the proposed formula to the Centre.

The Bansagar Agreement was signed in 1973 by Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and the then undivided Bihar. The agreement governs the sharing of the Sone river's waters among the participating states. After Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar in November 2000, the original agreement remained in force. However, the division of Bihar's share between the two newly separated states remained unresolved for nearly 25 years.

The ministry's memorandum stated that the Centre formed a committee to settle the issue. The committee worked with representatives from both state governments and unanimously recommended the 5.75 MAF and 2.0 MAF distribution formula. Following the recommendation, the Centre circulated a draft agreement to Bihar and Jharkhand for their approval. Both states later conveyed their formal consent, clearing the way for the final signing.

The agreement marks a major step in resolving an interstate water-sharing issue that remained pending for over two decades. It also reflects cooperation between the Centre and the two states in reaching a mutually accepted solution. Once signed, the agreement will officially define the water-sharing arrangement under the original Bansagar framework.

The Union government is now preparing to address another major interstate river dispute. According to the same senior official, the Centre will now focus on the Mahanadi River issue involving Odisha and Chhattisgarh. “The Mahanadi River dispute is next. Both Chhattisgarh and Odisha have approached the government for a resolution,” the official said.

The Mahanadi dispute involves disagreements over the sharing of river water and the construction of projects in the upstream region. Odisha and Chhattisgarh have remained at odds over these issues for several years. The matter is already pending before a tribunal. The official did not share details about the Centre's proposed approach or indicate when discussions would begin.

The upcoming agreement between Bihar and Jharkhand is expected to close one of India's longest-pending interstate water-sharing disputes. With both states giving their approval and the Centre completing its preparations, the signing now awaits a mutually convenient date for all the leaders involved.