IMPROVEMENT OF DRAINAGE SYSTEM IN JOO CHIAT

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Yeoh Ghim Seng asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware that the drainage system in the Joo Chiat Constituency is inadequate and whether and what steps he proposes to take to improve it.

The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the hon. Member that the drainage system in Joo Chiat Constituency is inadequate. This situation has been made worse by indiscriminate and thoughtless dumping of rubbish into the drains by some residents of the area. The lands in this area are generally low-lying and the drainage system rather antiquated. Overall radical improvement would be extremely costly and could only be carried out in conjunction with an urban renewal scheme. However, the Public Works Department is at present taking steps to carry out minor improvements to the main outlet drain running parallel to Haig Road and the subsidiary drains.

The Department is also stepping up the making up of private streets in Joo Chiat. These works include the making up of earth drains into concrete ones. When these earth drains are reconstructed together with the other minor improvement works, the situation should improve. However, as my colleague, the Minister for Health, has pointed out the other day, the residents of the area must help to do their best to see that rubbish is not thrown into the drains.