Hyderabad, Jan. 7 -- The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) on Tuesday, January 6, registered criminal cases against 19 residents of SR Nagar for illegally tapping into the city's drain network.

Acting on directions from HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy, vigilance officials took action against unauthorized connections from the pipeline supplied by the water board. The illegal taps were discovered in the Thattikhana section under O&M Division No. 6 after the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) was constructing a new road in the area, a press release by the water board said.

Officials said the 19 residents from a local colony had independently connected their properties to the main sewerage pipe...