Fulfilling a long-standing demand of the residents and elected representatives, the Tiruneermalai town panchayat near Pallavaram has given a new look to sanitation complex in Vembuliamman Koil Street and thrown open the facility to public a couple of days ago. This move comes in the backdrop of a report in 'Express' February 23, 2007, on the complex being locked for months due to the non-availability of water facility. Funded by MR Vaithiyalingam, the then Tambaram MLA's local constituency fund and South Chennai Member of Parliament TR Baalu's Local Area Development fund (MPLADS), the complex had not been used for a few months after its inauguration on December 8, 2004. The reason, sources said, was non-availability of water in the borewell that was dug up exclusively to cater to the needs of people using the complex. This had forced the residents, mainly poor labourers working in the nearby tanneries, allow their children to defecate in the open. This caused health hazards to the people, particularly since a public health centre existed near the complex sans compound wall. Officials in the town panchayat were quick in giving a fresh look to the often neglected sanitary complexes in the local bodies in the southern suburbs. The complex,an all-women sanitary complex comprising 10 toilets-cumbathrooms, was white-washed. Old water pipelines were replaced with new ones, and new toilet pans had been installed replacing the old ones. Further, officials noted the urban local body would provide uninterrupted water supply to the complex. The facility has been handed over to Dravida Women Self Help Group.