PRAWN PONDS IN THE COLONY OF SINGAPORE

Monday, 16th December, 1957

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry whether he will supply the following information regarding prawn ponds in the Colony of Singapore:-

(a) the number of (i) prawn ponds, and (ii) prawn pond sluice gates at present in operation;

(b) the area in which these prawn ponds are to be found and the acreage of each area;

(c) the total acreage of (i) Crown Land (ii) other land not so far converted into prawn ponds but suitable for such development, the areas in which such land is to be found, and the acreage of each area; and

(d) the number of prawn ponds which have fallen into disuse, the areas in which they are to be found, the acreage of each area, and the reasons for their disuse.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: (a) (i) Number of prawn ponds at present in operation = 96.

(ii) Number of prawn pond sluice gates at present in operation = 278.

(b) Areas in which prawn ponds are found and acreage of each area :- Areas Estimated acreage (1) P. Ubin 350 acres (2) P. Tekong 50 " (3) Sg. Serangoon, Sg. Tempenis and vicinity 300 " (4) Ponggol 110 " (5) Kallang Basin 43 " (6) West Coast Road Area (Sg. Pandan and Jurong River) 495 " (7) Jurong Area (Sg. Jurong to Tuas) 535 " (c) (i) Areas expected to be suitable for conversion into yet converted: Locality Approximate area (1) Sg. Ponggol 500 acres Crown Land (2) Sg. Seletar 1,150 " " " (3) Sg. Simpang 570 " " " (4) Sg. Berih 1,450 " " " (5) Tuas 900 " " " (6) Ulu Pandan Nature Reserve 1,375 " " " (ii)None. (d) Number of prawn ponds which have fallen into disuse and area in which they are to be found :- Area No of disused ponds Acreage Kallang Basin 3 33 acres Reason for disuse: The reclamation of swamp land by the dumping of rubbish in the vicinity of these ponds appears to affect their catches.

The following question for Oral Answer stood on the Order Paper of 16th December, 1957:-