LORONG KINCHIR (Flood alleviation measures)

Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the Minister for the Environment what measures have been taken to alleviate the suffering of the residents in the flood prone areas at the kampong along Lorong Kinchir, off Lorong Chuan.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, the Sungei Kallang is now being widened and deepened to increase the drainage. This project is expected to be completed this year. Meanwhile, the water which flows through this kampong into Sungei Kallang does so through six outlet drains from Ang Mo Kio. When the work of deepening and widening Sungei Kallang is completed this year, the reconstruction of the outlet drains through the kampong will begin soon. When this is completed next year, the flooding of the kampong at Lorong Kinchir will be alleviated.

This brings out the point that I was trying to make earlier on to the hon. Member for Kampong Kembangan who asked about the flooding at the junction of Jalan Eunos and the Pan-Island Expressway. Here is a case where it is unwise to spend money on something temporary. It is only after completing the deepening and widening of Sungei Kallang that we should begin to widen and deepen the six canals which drain water from Ang Mo Kio through the Kampong along Lorong Kinchir to Sungei Kallang. This is the sequence to be followed to finalise the drainage for the area.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Point of clarification, Sir. I did not make any suggestion about the construction of any temporary canal. I only raised the question whether the Drainage Department has advised the PWD about the implications of the flood relief projects in the area.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, I did not make any mention about the hon. Member making any suggestion to me. What I was saying is that there could have been (I do not know for sure but it is normal) a discussion between the two Ministries. But from what I can gather, it would be better to organise the project by stages in its proper sequence.