Cauvery verdict will be implemented: Soz

Allaying the fears of farmers, Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz on Wednesday said the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's verdict on the sharing of the river's waters would be implemented as per its recommendations.

Replying to a specific question on farmers in Tamil Nadu being apprehensive about the implementation of the verdict in view of past experiences, Soz told reporters in Coimbatore that there was an "in-built scientific formula" for deciding the share of water for the states and this would be implemented within a year.

"There is also a regulatory authority to look after the implementation part," Soz said.

Categorically denying reports in a section of the press that he had given a three-month ultimatum to Karnataka to implement the verdict, Soz said the riparian states have been given three months to study the verdict and to file their grievances.

A regulatory mechanism is already in place and the final verdict will be implemented within 12 months after going through all formalities and grievances, he said.

Regarding the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Mullaperiyar dam, Soz said, "Water is totally a state subject."

If the states talk to me, I could have discussed it with them. But, if they approach the Supreme Court, nothing can be done by me."