SHORTAGE OF WATER IN RURAL AREAS

Mr Goh Tong Liang asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing whether he is aware that the people in rural areas have been and are suffering hardships from lack of water; and whether he will take steps to alleviate their hardships.

Inche Abdul Hamid: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am aware of the need for increasing the supply of water to people in the rural areas and my Ministry has taken and will continue to take steps to increase such supplies.

Before the Coalition Government took office in April, 1955, there were all in all only 213 standpipes in the rural areas of Singapore. Today, the rural areas of Singapore have 347 standpipes - 134 more than when this Government took office. In addition, 39 more which have been approved by the Rural Board are in the process of being installed. In money terms in 1954 for example, less than $450,000 were allocated by the Rural Board for water supply. In 1956, the allocation is slightly more than $1 million - an increase of approximately 222 per cent over the 1954 figure. This year, the Rural Board intends to step up its expenditure in this direction to approximately $1,170,000. Both in money terms and in terms of the number of standpipes built, it can be seen that my Ministry acting through the Rural Board has greatly increased its efforts to meet the demand for water supply in the rural areas. In addition to what I have just said, the Rural Board also operates a scheme to supply water by wagons during dry periods to outlying villages where standpipes are not available. In 1956, the expenditure in this connection was approximately $58,000.