FLOODS IN CAMBRIDGE ROAD, OWEN ROAD AND NORFOLK ROAD

Mr S. Rajoo asked the Minister for Law and National Development, in view of the recent floods in the Cambridge Road, Owen Road and Norfolk Road areas, (a) if he will consider taking immediate steps, as a temporary measure, to raise the embankment and widen the canal between Keng Lee Road and the Kandang Kerbau Police Station; and (b) whether he will consider requesting the Housing and Development Board to give priority in the allocation of the Board's flats to applicants from these areas who wish to move out.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the areas about which the Member is worried are extremely low-lying and densely built up and are less than two feet above the level of the highest tide. Therefore, heavy rainfall coinciding with a high tide will cause flooding in these areas.

Raising the Rochore Canal embankments, as suggested by the hon. Member, would mean raising the highest level of the water in the canal above that of the level in the culverts and drains leading into the canal. Therefore, unless control flap gates at the discharge ends of culverts and drains are built, the water from the canal could flow into the surrounding areas. If these flap gates are built and closed during heavy rainfall, the rain water in these areas cannot flow into the canal. If there is a high tide coinciding with heavy rainfall and the flap gates are opened, the water in the canal will be pushed by the tide and flow back into these low-lying areas.

Immediate widening of the canal as suggested by the hon. Member would not be feasible, due to the fact that the existing roads on either side of the canal have been built very close to the canal embankments. Any minor widening will not do much to alleviate flooding.

However, the Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme is being implemented to alleviate not only the floods in the Bukit Timah area, but also in these areas about which the Member is worried. Work on this major Flood Alleviation Scheme is now in progress and is expected to be completed some time in 1969. Mr Speaker, that deals with the first part of the question. If I may go on to the second part.

Some priority can be given by the Housing and Development Board to applicants who wish to move out of these areas. For those already occupying Housing Board flats, transfers can be arranged provided they are not, choosey as regards location. In the case of those who are not at the moment living in Housing Board flats, they should apply in the normal manner, and if they are eligible under the rules, they can be allocated Housing Board flats within a matter of days provided again they are not choosey as regards location.

Mr Rajoo: A supplementary question, Sir. Can the Minister tell me a little more about the flood alleviation scheme in Bukit Timah? If I am allowed to ask a second supplementary question, can he also say where flats are available for those people who want to move out?

Mr Barker: The Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme is being implemented in two stages - Phase 1 and Phase 2. The Government has approved the implementation of the Phase 1 Scheme at an estimated cost of $6,840,000. Approval of the Phase 1 Scheme involves the construction of an entirely new canal which will divert the storm water from Upper Bukit Timah and Sungei Namly catchments, starting at about the 6th milestone Bukit Timah Road to join up with Sungei Ulu Pandan. This Phase has already commenced and, as I have said, work will be completed or is expected to be completed by 1969.

Phase 2 of the scheme on which a firm decision has not yet been taken would involve another diversion of flood waters and would mean cutting another canal starting at about the 4th milestone Bukit Timah Road to join up with Sungei Kallang. This deals with the Member's first supplementary question.

As far as the second supplementary question is concerned, there are flats in Toa Payoh, flats in Redhill, flats in Upper Changi Road and a few flats in Bukit Ho Swee which are readily available. In Upper Changi Road there are about 400; Redhill about 250; Toa Payoh a few thousand; and Bukit Ho Swee about 100.