MALABAR STREET, HYLAM STREET, MALAY STREET AND PURVIS STREET (Removal of refuse and cleaning of drains)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the removal of refuse and the cleaning of drains by cleansing workers of his Ministry in Malabar Street, Hylam Street, Malay Street and Purvis Street in the Bras Basah Constituency have been rather irregular, and if he will cause instructions to be given to the Cleansing Department for the regular removal of refuse and cleaning of drains in those streets

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, except for an occasional vehicle breakdown which is inevitable, regular direct collection of refuse has been provided to Malabar Street, portion of Bugis Street between Victoria Street and Malabar Street, Malay Street and Purvis Street every morning. In the event of a vehicle breakdown, the refuse is usually cleared in the afternoon or, at the latest, the next morning.

For Hylam Street and the portion of Bugis Street between Malabar Street and North Bridge Road, refuse is collected by handcart as these streets are impassable to the refuse collection wagon, owing to the location of the overhead pedestrian bridge, hawkers and lock-up stalls near the junction of Bugis Street and North Bridge Road.

Cleaning of drains in this area is also being carried out regularly. However, the streets in this area are lined on both sides by street hawkers with heavy congestion at Bugis and Malabar Streets, making the cleaning of drains infinitely more difficult. This is because the hawkers cause obstruction to these drains by placing planks over them to serve as additional preparation area. They are also in the habit of discharging their washings directly into these drains. As a result, besides being swept, the drains have also to be flushed. However, the flushing of drains has been restricted to about twice a week to conserve water.

It would be a great help in keeping the drains clean if the Member for Bras Basah would advise the hawkers to cooperate by refraining from dumping left-over food and sullage waste from their washings into the drains.