FLOOD-PREVENTION MEASURES (LOW-LYING AREAS)

Mr Lim Cher Kheng asked the Minister for Communications and Works, in view of the approach of the rainy season, whether all flood-prevention measures in the low-lying areas have now been completed; and whether he can give an assurance that experience in the past, particularly in the Bedok Resettlement area and in the Kampong Tai Seng area near the Paya Lebar Airport, will not be repeated.

Mr Francis Thomas: I regret that I have to give a negative reply to both parts of the question. I expect that the hon. Member and the House in general would like to have more than a bare negative on this matter. I will therefore go into some detail so that the hon. Member can understand the scientific complexities of the problem of flood prevention.

In my reply to a similar question last July, I indicated that there were two factors which prevent rapid and immediate action against flooding. First, it is necessary to undertake lengthy hydrological and topographical surveys to ascertain the exact causes and nature of flooding in each area where it occurs. Since all subsequent flood prevention measures must be based on these preliminary surveys, it is necessary that the survey should be completely accurate in order that mistakes can be avoided and public money should not be wasted. There is thus a considerable time factor involved between the occurrence of a flood and the taking of measures to prevent its recurrence.

There is also a cost factor which is very serious. Preliminary investigations indicate that for the city area alone, flood prevention works might cost as much as $60 million. Expenditure of that nature must obviously be balanced against other necessary public expenditure, and if it were to be undertaken, it would deserve the most serious and careful study by all Members of the Assembly.

The hon. Member may better understand the nature of the problem if I tell him that it is essentially one of scientific control of vast natural forces. In this particular island of Singapore, it is complicated by the fact that the natural forces were not sufficiently taken into account in the earlier development of the island.

I should like to assure the hon. Member that the Government is acutely aware of the suffering and the waste which result from recurrent flooding. I personally had experience of this in past years; it is a problem that frequently recurs to my mind. Any attempt, however, to deal with the problem of flooding on a vote-catching basis of temporary measures, stop-gap measures, would do little good and almost certainly involve a considerable waste of public money. We must proceed scientifically in this matter if we are to get any useful result.

The second part of the hon. Member's question is partly answered already, but I will give some further details. He mentions the Bedok Resettlement area. I shall make a statement later in connection with a Report that has been tabled. It is enough to say now that the bund has been strengthened and the drainage channel has been straightened and deepened.

I may also mention that the City Council has undertaken a number of minor flood prevention works at the Stamford/Orchard Canal, Bukit Timah/ Rochore Canal, Sungei Whampoa, Sungei Kallang, Geylang Serai and Geylang River, and in the Ulu Pandan area. At Kampong Tai Seng to which the hon. Member refers, the flood problem arises from the low-lying nature of the land, and the problem may have been increased to some extent by agricultural development. The Chief Drainage Engineer will be recommending measures for Kampong Tai Seng as soon as his investigations have been completed.

The hon. Member will see, therefore, that though it is scientifically impossible to give him the assurance he asks for, hard work has been done to assess the need and to recommend measures for flood control. I may add a final word of comfort. Meteorologically speaking, the probability of flooding on last year's scale is rather small. Records show that the daily rainfall at Kallang on the 9th and 10th December, 1954, has only been exceeded once in the last 72 years; and similarly the total monthly rainfall at Kallang last December was the highest for 86 years. We can hope that we shall not have two record years of flooding in immediate succession.

Mr Lim Koon Teck: Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister for Communications and Works give an assurance that requests for deepening of channels be taken in hand as soon as possible, in view of possible flooding due to the monsoon that is about to break in a month's time?

Mr Francis Thomas: I have already dealt with this, Mr Speaker, Sir, in my answer to the first question. Whatever can be done will be done. It is no use going ahead until you are able to have a scientific assessment of the problem. You can transfer the water from one area to another without getting it off the land and into the sea.