RECLAMATION (KALLANG BASIN)

4.02 p.m.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in my name,

That this Parliament in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246) approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the fore-shore and river bed containing an area of approximately 387 acres at Kallang Basin as delineated on the plan, marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 4/65", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.

Mr Speaker, Sir, an estimated 25 per cent of the total area of our Republic consists of swamps or waste lands which can be reclaimed for development. Some of these swamp lands fall within the Kallang Basin, and a scheme costing an estimated $24.5 million has been prepared by Government for the comprehensive re-development of the Basin. Its implementation includes the realignment of Kallang River and the reclamation of tidal swamps along the river banks. These swamps are coloured green in the Land Office Reclamation Plan No. 4 of 1965, a copy of which has been deposited in the Library of this House. When completed, this reclamation will make available an additional 387 acres of land within the Basin for more industrial and residential development. The scheme will enable syphoning of some of the families residing in urban areas affected by urban renewal in this area. About 2,518 families are affected by the reclamation works, of whom about 1,525 have already been resettled mainly in Housing and Development Board flats. The resettlement of the remaining families will be undertaken as reclamation work progresses.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this Parliament in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246) approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and river bed containing an area of approximately 387 acres at Kallang Basin as delineated on the plan, marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 4/65", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.