Environmental Impact Assessment for Cross-Island MRT Line

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport with regard to the Cross-Island MRT Line that will pass through the southern section of the central catchment nature reserve (a) what is the progress of the environmental impact assessment for this project; (b) what will the Ministry do to minimise the long-term repercussions on the ecosystem; and (c) whether the Ministry will give an assurance that the nature reserve will be protected.

The Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mrs Josephine Teo) (for the Minister for Transport): Mdm Speaker, the alignment of the Cross Island Line (CRL) has not yet been decided. We are still considering various options, either going under the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) or around it.

Given the importance of the CCNR and its value to our nature heritage, the LTA undertook the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) even before starting the soil investigations that precede any decision on the alignment. The EIA was scoped with the help of nature groups and conservation practitioners, and is on track to be completed by 2016. The findings will help us determine the environmental impact on the CCNR, and identify measures to mitigate or avoid it.

Besides the EIA findings, the Government's eventual decision on the CRL alignment will also take into account other considerations like engineering feasibility, travel time, cost, and the impact of land acquisition on Singaporeans whose homes may be affected if we decide on the alignment which skirts around the CCNR.

Mdm Speaker: Order. End of Question Time.