PATNA/RANCHI, May 29 -- The Bihar government's long-cherished plan to transform the Indrapuri barrage on the Sone river into a major reservoir is still awaiting a formal nod from Jharkhand, even as both states move closer to resolving a decade-old interstate water-sharing dispute.

The agreement on sharing Sone river waters was reached during the eastern zonal council meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah in July 2025. Bihar has already prepared a draft agreement, secured cabinet approval and incorporated changes sought by Jharkhand as recently as January. Yet, officials in Patna say they continue to wait for clearance from Ranchi for a formal deal.

The ambitious Indrapuri reservoir scheme aims to convert the existing barrage ...