The initiative is part of the World Bank-aided Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) project to improve irrigational (infrastructure) facilities besides getting the farmers involved in the water resources management of their region.

Under phase III of the plan for Tiruvallur district, the water users forums are being formed along side improving the Kosathalayar basin, which is the life line of farmers in the district.

According to sources in the Public Works Department here, development works including that of the Periya Kalakattur and Manavur Isa tanks would soon begin in all the 198 tanks in the district. These two tanks alone support irrigation in about 1,500 hectares out of the total 35,256 hectares in the district.

The works that are to start soon include strengthening of tank bunds, repair and reconstruction of sluices and surplus weirs. Tenders will be floated soon inviting bidders and the whole exercise of development of tanks is likely to be over before mid 2011. The 143 WUAs, formed in the district, will supersupervise the works.

According to Ripon Building sources, initially, the civic body plans to set up such urinals at 10 different places, mostly at crowded areas in the city.

A group of corporation officials is expected to visit New Delhi in a week to study the working conditions of such urinals set up by Municipal Corporation of Delhi a few months ago.

This move comes in the backdrop of latest complaints of excessive charging at public conveniences near Broadway bus terminus.

Based on repeated complaints that public conveniences at the terminus were encroached upon by anti-socials who charged its users, Mayor M Subramanian on Wednesday inspected the site and ordered suspension of conservancy inspector for dereliction of duty.

Chennai Corporation has 770 public conveniences in the city, of which, 498 are pay-and-use facilities and the remainings are free and categorised as general public conveniences. In the 498 public conveniences, about 120 have been given to private parties for maintenance under tendering system. Of the total public conveniences, 80 per cent are urinals and the remainings are multiple toilets designed for defecation and urination. In pay-and-use public conveniences, Re 1 is being collected from users for urination and Rs 2 for using toilets. According to sources, almost all public conveniences in the city are ‘managed’ by ruling party Councillors and influential partymen in their wards.