FLOOD PREVENTION AT LIAT TOWERS

FLOOD PREVENTION AT LIAT TOWERS

4.

Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the Ministry approves of the plan to erect a wall in front of Liat Towers to alleviate potential or likely floods; (b) whether it will recommend the building of such walls outside buildings prone to flood waters; and (c) what other alternatives are being explored.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Besides providing adequate drainage infrastructure, another aspect of flood alleviation and protection is to require buildings to be built to appropriate platform and crest levels. The four buildings along Orchard Road affected by the recent intense storms were older developments with inadequate flood protection measures.

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PUB has met with the managements of these buildings, including Liat Towers, and recommended various types of flood barriers to achieve higher crest levels. The management of Liat Towers has since engaged a consultant who has finalised the design of a flood barrier for the building. PUB will continue to assist the building managements with technical advice and work with them to implement the measures.

Besides erecting a wall with flood gates, other forms of flood barriers include portable metal flood boards and raising the steps at the entrances that lead to the basements.

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