FLOODS (Preventive measures)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Law and National Development, in view of the serious floods in early December, 1969, whether Government has any effective plans to prevent those serious floods from recurring.

Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the floods on 10th December last were caused by unprecedented heavy rains coinciding with a high spring tide. Nothing can be done to prevent rainfall or to alter the movement of tides. However, our drainage system can be improved. But finance is the limiting factor. We can construct a drainage system augmented by huge pumping stations that will meet all eventualities, but this will be extremely costly and difficult to justify. Like all public work projects, priorities have to be decided.

Over the last few years, several drainage and flood alleviation schemes have been approved. Some of these have been completed, whilst others are still under construction. The following schemes are now under construction:

(1) The Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme, Phase 1, which is the cutting of a diversion canal to channel water from the upper Bukit Timah catchment area to Ulu Pandan canal. The scheme is expected to be completed by the end of next year and the cost will be in the region of $6� million.

(2) The urban renewal drainage scheme - the New Bridge Road outlet drain and Peng Siang Quay outlet drain. Concrete lining and realignment of both drains is being done. Completion date is May 1970 and the cost is $1 million.

(3) The Sungei Kallang improvement scheme, which consists of the realignment and widening of the river from Braddell Road to Thomson Road, including Potong Pasir and Lorong Chuan, costing $� million.

(4) Kampong Kembangan and Siglap improvement scheme. Work is being done on the improvement of subsidiary drains in the Kampong Kembangan area which lead into the Siglap Canal at a cost of $150,000.

(5) Sungei Whampoa lining. Concrete lining of Sungei Whampoa is expected to be completed in four months' time at a cost of $� million.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in addition, all flood alleviation and drainage plans are being reassessed and, finance permitting, proposals for new drainage schemes will be implemented in the future that will lessen the severity of floods. We could not altogether avoid the flooding that was caused by the unprecedented 16.9 inches of rainfall in 24 hours on the 10th of December coinciding with a high spring tide of 10 feet 1 inch.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, apart from the various schemes mentioned by the Minister, what are the flood alleviation schemes that have been completed and where are these schemes situated?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the most recently completed one was the Pelton Canal scheme which was the lining of Pelton Canal through MacPherson Estate completed in May this year at a cost of $� million. The Alexandra Canal lining was completed in 1968 at a cost of $2 million. The Geylang Canal widening and lining was completed in 1968 at a cost of $1.2 million. The Tampines Road Canal improvement was completed in 1967 at a cost of $� million. The Orchard Road Canal lining was completed in 1964 at a cost of $� million.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, apart from these completed schemes and in view of the serious flood recently, can the Minister inform the House of other proposed flood alleviation schemes and when these will be started?

Mr Barker: Sir, the biggest scheme which has not yet received approval is the second phase of the Bukit Timah flood alleviation scheme to cut a new canal from the 3� milestone Bukit Timah Road through Whitley Road and Thomson Road along part of Sungei Whampoa to join up with Sungei Kallang at Kallang Basin. The estimated cost is $7� million.

The next scheme is at Potong Pasir and Lorong Chuan valley. This is a rather low-lying area. We could widen Sungei Kallang and realign and improve its subsidiary drains. We could even construct a storage reservoir in Lorong Chuan valley. But all this would cost $5� million.

There are some smaller projects. For instance, Geylang Serai is a very low-lying area and some parts of it are below high tide level. There is a scheme which is being considered to provide adequate concrete-lined canals in Geylang Serai. This will cost about $300,000. Other smaller schemes are the improvement and lining of Rochore Canal costing about $1 million, the provision of adequate canals, and the raising of the level of the roads in the Boon Tat Street area which would cost about $� million.

Mr Sim Boon Woo (Changi): Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister say whether there is any flood alleviation scheme for Changi, especially in the Koh Sek Lim Road area which was very badly hit by the recent floods?

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, officials from the Public Works Department and the Public Utilities Board are reconsidering the drainage plans for the Bedok/Changi area; we are thinking of building a reservoir where the Housing and Development Board is digging earth to reclaim the east coast. We may build this reservoir both as a catchment area against floods and to catch the Water during floods. Alternatively, if the water is not very polluted, we can use it as an additional store for our water supply. The matter is receiving the consideration of officials and a decision will be made soon.

Mr Ho See Beng: Mr Speaker, Sir, arising out of the question of floods, what is the Government's policy in regard to the construction of temporary unauthorised shacks or huts by the victims in the recent floods? Is the Government going to allow this?

Mr Barker: Without any hesitation, I would say yes to the Member for Bras Basah. People who have suffered and lost their homes either completely or partly can surely repair or rebuild and have a roof over their heads without fearing prosecution from the Chief Building Surveyor. On the other hand, of course, we must watch the position to see that others who have not suffered from the floods do not take the opportunity to erect unauthorised houses.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, has the Government any plans to carry out flood alleviation schemes in Sembawang Constituency? Certain areas in Sembawang were affected by the recent floods and had water as high as four feet. Some roads have been eroded by the flood waters. Will the Government take immediate steps to repair these roads?

Mr Barker: Immediate steps are being taken to repair the roads which have been spoilt as a result of the floods. But this supplementary question is really in connection with the second question of the Member for Sembawang.

As to floods in Sembawang, I think the Member will agree with me that this was the first time the floods affected Sembawang. Frankly, we have no concrete plans for alleviating floods in Sembawang. But as I said in the last sentence of my reply, our whole flood alleviation measures are being reconsidered with a view to alleviating floods which may occur as a result of either heavy rains for many hours or high tides or both.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister said that Sembawang was affected by the floods for the first time. I hope it will not happen again there.

Mr Lee Teck Him (Ulu Pandan): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in regard to the recent floods, the damage done was very serious. Some rich people had their cars totally submerged in the flood and these were completely damaged. Some people were killed and others injured. Damage to property was extensive.

Just now the Minister mentioned big flood alleviation projects coming up. That is good news. But, from my point of view, projects are projects. In this connection, we must learn from our past experience in building flats and houses. We have been very speedy in putting up houses and flats. Therefore, we should be equally speedy in carrying out these flood alleviation schemes.

For example, the Ulu Pandan scheme has been going on for the last few years. I paid visits to the work site a few times, but there were no men working on the scheme. Ulu Pandan Road is a very important main trunk road which will connect Singapore with Malaysia and even Thailand. lf it rains very heavily for two days, it is very difficult to go through this road. I would like to ask the Minister if he will send more men to work on the Ulu Pandan scheme. If they are not working fast enough, they should work day and night.

Just now the Minister said that there was not enough money to spend on all the flood alleviation projects. That is wrong. If there is no money, how can we build houses and flats? We should spend part of the money allocated to flat-building on the Ulu Pandan scheme, which is a very important project. The small drains in the area should be widened so that the water will flow more quickly to the sea. The East Coast Reclamation Scheme has somehow affected the free flow of water. Can the Minister take steps to remedy the situation?

Mr Barker: Sir, that is the longest supplementary question I have ever heard! Perhaps to satisfy the Member for Ulu Pandan I should say, as I said in the last sitting of Parliament, that the Ulu Pandan scheme has been delayed because of rock formation which has been encountered in the tunnels we are now building between Bukit Timah and Ulu Pandan.

It is not the P.W.D. workers who are working on the project but the contractors. The work has been let out to three or four contractors under a tender scheme. Of course, if it rains, they cannot work. But I will look into the Member's complaint and see what can be done to expedite matters.