BEDOK NEW TOWN (NEIGHBOURHOOD 5)(Complaint of low water pressure)

Encik Saidi Haji Shariff asked the Minister for National Development (a) what measures the Housing and Development Board plans to take to improve the water pressure of the top floor units of flats in Neighbourhood 5 of Bedok New Town which falls within the Kaki Bukit Constituency; (b) when these measures will be taken as the present low water pressure is causing considerable inconvenience to residents; and (c) how much they will cost.

Mr Lee Yock Suan (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, to improve the water pressure of the top floor units of apartment blocks, the Housing and Development Board will install additional distribution mains and additional downfeed stainless steel pipes to the topmost two floors. The internal water pipes of such rental flats which have become encrusted with sediment will also be replaced.

Tender for the above improvement works for flats in Neighbourhood 5 of Bedok North Estate failing within the Kaki Bukit Constituency has just been called. Work is expected to commence in March 1982.

Based on recent tenders, the cost of these improvements is about $30,000 per apartment block.

The hon. Member may also wish to know that the newly completed flats in Neighbourhoods 6 and 7 of Bedok North Estate within the Kaki Bukit Constituency have been included in the improvement programme. Work is expected to commence in March 1982.