PRIOR INTIMATION OF IMPENDING SHORTAGE OF WATER SUPPLY (Tabling of any available Reports thereon)

Mr David Marshall asked the Prime Minister whether he had any prior intimation from his advisers of the impending shortage of the water supply which commenced on 28th August, 1961, and whether he would table any available reports thereon.

The Prime Minister: Sir, as early as May this year the City Water Engineer informed the Acting C.A.O of a possible shortage of water if rainfall continued to be below the yearly average for those months of the year. The reason was that last year's rainfall was the lowest for 80 years of recorded meteorological reports. It was 61 inches as compared with the yearly average of 90 inches. As a result, our impounding reservoirs which were normally filled up during the rainy season of November, December and January were left half empty. However, the water levels in Johore were then reasonably good and no rationing was then required.

As the drought continued throughout May, June, July and August, not only did the water levels of our impounding reservoirs in Singapore become perilously low, but the water levels in Johore also went down. Out of a daily consumption of some 69 million gallons of water, 59 million gallons come from Johore. Because of the drought in Singapore, the whole 69 million gallons of our daily consumption of water had to come from Johore. But when the drought hit not only Singapore but was, in fact, worse in South Johore and water levels went down, rationing had to be introduced.

Up to the end of October this year, rainfall in Singapore was only 51.44 inches as against a yearly average over the last 80 years of 76.31 inches for the same ten months, January to October.

I am informed by the Meteorological Office that the drought hit many parts of the Federation, and many towns there also had water rationing. The reports regarding the water situation were released to the Press on two occasions: first, by me on the 25th of June this year, when the facts were disclosed, and later on the 3rd of September by the Deputy Prime Minister who was then acting as Prime Minister. All relevant data had been disclosed in these two Press reports, and there is little to add to them in tabling them in this House.

Mr David Marshall: In the light of the warning as indicated since May, would the Prime Minister inform this House whether his officials and his Department were conscious that a drought in Singapore would also necessarily mean a drought in Johore, and what plans were prepared since May to meet this possible eventuality?

The Prime Minister: Sir, there was never any danger of a complete cut-off in supplies, because there was sufficient water in the impounding reservoirs in Johore for the vital needs of the City. Had the rainfall for the months of May, June, July and August been even three-quarters of that normally obtained for that season of the year, rationing would not have been necessary. Unfortunately

• although some have it that that has something to do with people exploding bombs in other parts of the world - the weather seems to have changed, and not only South Johore but I am told Indonesia also went very dry; and the moment the level reached a point where if the drought still continued, it would become perilous, then rationing would be introduced.

May I add that at the moment the water levels are rising, and, in fact, if we are prepared to take a risk that November and December this year would be as wet as they normally are. then we can lift the rationing. But if we lift it and November and December are not quite so wet as they normally are and as dry as last year, then we shall be in trouble. So, for that reason, the rationing has to go on for the time being. But the moment we are sure of, and the Meteorological Office can confirm, the Northeast monsoon which has hit Kelantan and Trengganu, that it is very wet there and it is also wet in South Johore, then rationing can be lifted.

Mr David Marshall: I seem to be misunderstood. All I asked, Sir, was: what plans were prepared beforehand to meet the possible eventuality?

The Prime Minister: The only plan, Mr Speaker, Sir, is to conserve what water there is and stretch it out for as long as possible. And the moment we reached the level where it became necessary to ration, then the public had to be inconvenienced. The last thing we wanted to do is that. As long as there is enough in store to carry us on to the rainy season in December, then we are quite prepared to go on without rationing. But when the level in Johore River and Tebrau went down, then we hit rock-bottom and we had to close the bars.

Mr A. P. Rajah (Farrer Park): Mr Speaker, Sir, could the Prime Minister tell the House, with the best possible conditions for Singapore, when he hopes to raise water rationing?

The Prime Minister: I would like to have announced today in this Chamber that we are lifting it as from 2 o'clock so that we do not have to fiddle around with pails and cans of water in the toilet. But my latest information from the Meteorological Office says, like all weather forecasters who like to remain credited and creditable oracles, that they will not predict that the monsoon, which is wet in Kelantan and Trengganu and which is coming in the next few days to South Johore and Singapore, will be wet. They say that there have been cases where it is wet in Kelantan and Trengganu, but by the time the winds come down to South Johore and Singapore, it has gone desiccated and dry. Sir, if they are unable to give me this assurance, then I will deny myself the pleasure of telling hon. Members that they can wash their hands with a degree of dignity and comfort. However, if in the course of the debate next week, I receive reports from the Meteorological Office that the North-east monsoon is also wet in South Johore, then water will he on.