World · India Bureau
Hyderabad Authority Dismantles Illegal Water Extraction Network at Sunnam Cheruvu
The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency has removed dozens of clandestinely installed pipelines siphoning water from Sunnam Cheruvu lake in the Guttala Begumpet area. The operation has exposed a significant water theft operation affecting the city's water resources.
LSN India ·

Authorities in Hyderabad have discovered and dismantled an extensive network of illegal water extraction infrastructure at Sunnam Cheruvu, one of the city's key water bodies. The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) removed multiple pipelines that had been discreetly laid into the lake from several adjoining buildings in the Guttala Begumpet locality.
The clandestine pipelines represent an organized attempt to divert water resources from the lake, circumventing official supply channels and municipal regulations. Investigators found that the unauthorized infrastructure had been strategically installed to remain inconspicuous, drawing water directly from the water body for unauthorized consumption.
The operation highlights growing concerns over water pilferage in Hyderabad's urban areas, where illegal extraction continues to strain the city's already-stretched water resources. HYDRAA has intensified its crackdown on such activities as part of broader efforts to protect the city's lakes and water sources from unauthorized exploitation.
The removal of the pipeline network forms part of a larger initiative to ensure equitable distribution of water resources and prevent environmental degradation of the city's water bodies. Authorities have indicated their commitment to identifying and penalizing those responsible for the illegal extraction operations.