The Karimnagar Municipal Corporation has embarked on construction of a new filter bed at an estimated cost of Rs 1.30 crore near the Lower Manair Dam (LMD) in the town. The new water purification mechanism is being installed as part of a comprehensive plan to meet the drinking water requirements of the rapidly expanding town with a futuristic vision, sources said. Karimnagar mayor D. Shankar formally launched the construction works here on Monday. The new facility, which is coming up in addition to the already existing two filter beds, near the LMD reservoir is likely to facilitate strengthening of the drinking water supply system and provide 15,000 additional municipal tap connections in the town. The town already has about 26,000 municipal tap connections. The tax collection authorities concerned have already launched a special drive to collect the tap bill arrears to the tune of about Rs 3 crore. Meanwhile, the officials have also drawn up plans to construct new tanks near the existing water reservoir at Ambedkar statue, SRR Degree College and Rampur in the town. Construction works of new water reservoir on Malkapur road and Gauthamnagar are under progress. Meanwhile, the civic authorities have initiated efforts to commence the ambitious underground drainage works at an estimated cost of Rs 76.60 crore in the town in the first week of March. The survey in respect of the project has already been over. Union minister for urban development S. Jaipal Reddy is likely to formally inaugurate the project works on March 7. However, the other development and repair works in the town are likely to come to a standstill during the course of execution of the underground project works in the near future. The municipal corporators irrespective of the party affiliations have urged the implementation agencies concerned to complete the project on a war footing.