Hyderabad, Oct. 24 -- The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) on Saturday, October 24, launched a large-scale operation against illegal borewells around Sunnam Cheruvu in Madhapur, targeting what it describes as a water racket that has run for decades.

According to HYDRAA, the special drive was carried out jointly with the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC), the Revenue Department, the police and other departments. Officials moved in under police security and removed pipes running from borewells dug inside houses near the lake.

HYDRAA said the borewells were being used to draw water illegally and sell it commercially, and that the operation was meant to rein in those running the business. In a video relea...