These firms were lifting water illegally using tubewells connected to Wasa line, sources said, adding that they also used separate pipes to bypass Wasa meters.

The establishments are AR Tower Building, Sarah Tower, Authentic Properties and Builders Limited, Sunmar Properties Limited, Lease Washing Industries Limited, Afford Development Limited, Salam Valley, Maolana CNG Conversion Centre, Forum Centre and Arafat Steel Industries Limited.

The court also disconnected four illegal water supply lines during the drives led by Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Magistrate Md Munir Chowdhury, the sources added.