JALAN EUNOS (Flood control measures)

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Minister for the Environment (a) whether his Ministry had anticipated the recent floodings at Jalan Eunos in the vicinity of the Pan-Island Expressway flyover, and, if so, why the flood control measures were not effective; (b) what steps are being taken to remedy the flooding problem; how effective those measures will be; and, if they are not effective, whether he will recommend that the families affected by the floodings be resettled immediately; and (c) whether draining flood water into the Siglap Canal will cause overloading of the Canal thereby aggravating the floodings in Pachitan, Changi Road and Frankel Estate; and, if so, whether his Ministry will revise its plans by diverting flood waters elsewhere or into new drainage networks instead of into the Siglap Canal.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, the piece of land between Jalan Eunos and the Pan-Island Expressway flyover now under construction is a part of the low-lying area of Geylang Serai, and it is always prone to floods. There are 20 squatter huts there. The residents there do know that this area is very prone to floods and so out of the 20 huts, 10 are on stilts. The Ministry does not run a weather bureau, but it does know that this area is prone to floods. Part of this low-lying area has been filled up to build the Pan-Island Expressway and, as a result, the rest of the area has become more prone to floods.

Lately we have been experiencing unusually wet weather and this has led to frequent floods in this area. The Ministry is aware of the plight of the residents there and has taken remedial measures. Unfortunately, they have not been very effective. Since this is a very low-lying area, flooding cannot be alleviated unless the whole area is filled up. It is not possible to offer resettlement terms to the residents there because the land is privately owned. It does not belong to the Government.

With regard to the other part of the question, that is, draining the storm water along Jalan Eunos into the Siglap Canal, there is no plan to drain the water from other catchment areas into the Siglap Canal. Therefore, it will not be overloaded and it is unlikely to flood the surrounding area.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi (Kampong Kembangan): Supplementary questions, Sir. Was the Drainage Department notified in advance about the construction of the Pan-Island Expressway flyover? If so, did the Drainage Department indicate specifically what drainage measures should be taken to ensure that flooding would be minimised?

The second question is: why is it that the area now suffers from flooding? For example, the area was flooded on the 27th April and 3rd May, 1979, when the rainfall recorded was only 40 mm and 43.6 mm respectively. Yet in January 1978 when the maximum rainfall for that month was 86 mm the area was not flooded. In making this comparison we have to bear in mind that the construction of the Pan-Island Expressway flyover commenced in March 1978 and the major earthworks were somewhat completed in September/October 1978.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been trying hard to follow closely what the Member said. I am no surveyor. However, I think that the collapse of the flyover has made it more difficult for the water to drain away from this low lying area. As a result, even a slight rainfall would have flooded the area. It is only after the completion of the fly-over and the road that permanent measures to relieve the area of flooding can be considered and undertaken.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Sir, I do not wish to appear persistent on this issue. But I have received petitions, more than four times over, from the constituents there. The question is: was there prior consultation between the Drainage Department and the PWD, so that the Drainage Department could instruct the PWD of the drainage control measures that should be provided before the earth-works started? I raise this question because I understand that this is part and parcel of the code of practice in the Drainage Department before they approve major projects and give clearance before a project can commence.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, normally there is consultation between the departments concerned to try and alleviate any inconvenience that may occur. In this instance, it is not desirable nor possible to undertake all the drainage measures that are required to alleviate this area from flooding before completion of the flyover and the adjacent section of the Pan-Island Expressway. What was done was only a temporary measure. Unfortunately, we have been having unusually wet weather resulting in more flooding than usual.