Hyderabad, Dec. 31 -- The Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has launched a major drive against illegal encroachments on Durgam Cheruvu lake in the city's IT corridor.

On Tuesday, December 30, HYDRAA teams removed nearly five acres of encroachments on the Madhapur side, near Inorbit Mall, reclaiming land that had been illegally converted into a paid parking lot.

Authorities said that the encroachers had filled portions of the lake bed with soil and were using the area as a commercial parking space, allegedly collecting up to Rs.50 lakh per month in rent.

Acting on a complaint highlighted in Prajavani, HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath ordered a field inquiry, following which officials confirmed the illegal ...