WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND DRAINAGE ACT, 1975 (Prosecution for non-construction of Rural Sewerage System)

The House being met the Clerk at the Table informed the House of the absence through indisposition of Mr Speaker from this day's Sitting.

Whereupon Mr Deputy Speaker proceeded to the Table and took the Chair, pursuant to the Standing Order.

Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology if he will consider waiving prosecution under section 58 (1) of the Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act, 1975, against persons in rural and suburban constituencies who fail to construct Rural Sewerage System R2 because of financial difficulties.

The Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker): Sir, I am afraid the answer to the Member for Thomson must be "No."

The construction of the Rural Sewerage System R2 is necessary in water catchments to prevent pollution of water flowing into our reservoirs. It is, therefore, not advisable to give exemption to any persons residing in water catchment areas from providing the R2 system or to waive prosecution under the Water Pollution control and Drainage Act, 1975.

I would like to inform Members that in cases of financial hardship the Sewerage Department will construct the R2 system, in the first instance, and allow the persons concerned to pay the cost in monthly instalments over a period of not more than five years.

The R2 sewerage system is a simple system. It consists of two buried concrete pipes which are inter-connected, a small brick chamber and pipes laid shallow underground to form a soak-away system. The estimated construction cost is about $1,500.