UNAUTHORISED HUTS AT PALMER ROAD

Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for National Development whether the Government proposes to demolish certain unauthorised huts at Palmer Road; whether the people now living in those unauthorised huts will be given alternative accommodation in Housing and Development Board flats; and whether the Housing and Development Board has any plans to build flats in the Palmer Road area.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 40 unauthorised erections which were built between 1955 and 1958 on a piece of land behind the Ministry of Health, Palmer Road. To the best of my knowledge, the Housing and Development Board has no plans for a building programme at Palmer Road in the near future. However, there may be road extension projects and Urban Redevelopment Schemes to be carried out when comprehensive Urban Re development plans are drawn up.

Once the Government has decided to carry out any schemes in the Palmer Road area, it will make arrangements to re-house the occupants of unautho rised huts in the affected area. It is the normal procedure that whenever Government desires to develop a piece of land for housing or industrial development purposes, Mandatory Orders will be issued by the Court to have the unauthorised structures demolished and, at the same time, those living in unauthorised huts will be offered al ternative accommodation in Housing Board flats.