The Government of Bihar has announced four major Sone River-based water resources projects aimed at expanding irrigation coverage, improving drinking water supply, resolving long-pending inter-state water disputes, and strengthening water security across several districts of the state.According to Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, two of these projects have become feasible following the settlement of the Sone River water-sharing dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand, while the remaining projects focus on river interlinking, reservoir development, and efficient utilization of surplus river water. The projects are expected to significantly benefit agriculture, drinking water supply, and flood management in Bihar. (The Times of India)
Bihar has adopted an integrated strategy to maximize the utilization of Sone River basin water resources through reservoir development, river-linking projects, and lifting surplus river water. The emphasis is not only on expanding irrigation but also on ensuring drinking water availability in water-scarce districts and improving resilience against floods and droughts.The projects also indicate Bihar's shift towards multi-purpose water resource planning, where irrigation, drinking water, flood management, and regional development are addressed simultaneously. The resolution of long-pending interstate disputes has opened new opportunities for implementing infrastructure projects that had remained stalled for decades. (The Times of India)
| Project | Objective | Expected Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Kadwan Reservoir–Indrapuri Reservoir Project | Linking Kadwan Reservoir with Indrapuri Reservoir | Improved irrigation and better utilization of Sone waters |
| Dhagar Reservoir Project | Development of Dhagar Reservoir exclusively for Bihar | Enhanced irrigation potential |
| Sone Lift Irrigation Project | Lifting Sone water from Indrapuri | Drinking water supply to Dehri, Sasaram and Kaimur |
| Kosi–Mechi River Linking Project | River interlinking | Irrigation expansion and flood mitigation in North Bihar |
The Bihar Government has modified the earlier Kadwan Reservoir Project by linking it with the Indrapuri Reservoir. This became feasible after the Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) resolved the long-pending Sone River water-sharing dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand during its meeting chaired by the Union Home Minister in July 2025.The project is expected to improve water storage, enhance irrigation efficiency, and ensure optimum utilization of Sone basin water resources. (The Times of India)
The earlier Telaiya–Dhagar Project has been restructured into the Dhagar Reservoir Project, which will exclusively serve the irrigation requirements of Bihar.The restructuring reflects the state's effort to secure greater control over water resources for agricultural development and long-term irrigation planning. (The Times of India)
The government plans to lift water from the Indrapuri Reservoir to supply drinking water to:
Additionally, surplus Ganga water from Mokama will be lifted to meet drinking water requirements of:
This project integrates irrigation with urban and rural drinking water supply, improving water availability in relatively water-stressed regions. (The Times of India)
The Kosi–Mechi River Linking Project aims to transfer water between river basins to improve irrigation and reduce flood risks.The project is expected to benefit the districts of:
Besides expanding irrigation, the project is intended to mitigate recurring floods in North Bihar by improving river basin management. (The Times of India)
A major development facilitating these projects has been the resolution of the 25-year-old water-sharing dispute between Bihar and Jharkhand.Under the 1973 agreement among Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar following construction of the Bansagar Dam, Bihar had been allocated 7.5 Million Acre Feet (MAF) of water.After the creation of Jharkhand in 2000, the new state sought 2.5 MAF, leading to a prolonged dispute.Following the settlement:
The settlement has enabled implementation of long-pending reservoir and irrigation projects. (The Times of India)
The Minister informed that despite being more than 60 years old, the following barrages remain structurally sound:
The State Government is carrying out comprehensive inspections of their structural components to ensure long-term operational safety after record water flow experienced in the previous year. (The Times of India)
Regarding the demand for developing Janaki Pauri at Simaria Dham, the Minister stated that implementation of a Haridwar-type riverfront model is difficult because the course of the Ganga continuously shifts in the area, making permanent riverfront infrastructure impractical. (The Times of India)
The projects are expected to generate multiple long-term benefits:
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Origin | Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh |
| Tributary of | Ganga River |
| States Covered | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar |
| Confluence | Joins the Ganga near Patna |
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| River | Sone River |
| Location | Madhya Pradesh |
| Nature | Multipurpose River Valley Project |
| Beneficiary States | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar |
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Established | 1957 under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 |
| Secretariat | Inter-State Council Secretariat, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi |
| Chairman | Union Home Minister |
| Vice-Chairman | Chief Ministers of member states (by rotation) |
Updated – 13 February 2026; 12:23 AM IST | News Source:The Times of India – 4 key Sone-based projects to boost irrigation: Minister