HDB HOUSING ESTATES (Maintenance services)

Dr Ang Kok Peng asked the Minister for National Development what plan has his Ministry for the scheduled, periodic and comprehensive inspection, with appropriate follow-up actions, of Housing and Development Board housing estates to ensure that the problems of low water pressure, frequent lift breakdowns, blocked drainage pipes and systems and water seepage are dealt with systematically and effectively even before individual complaints are received from residents.

Mr Lee Yock Suan (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, an improvement programme is in progress to tackle the problem of low water pressure at the top two floors of all high-rise HDB blocks. Separate main and down-feed pipes are provided to these floors to increase the flow of water. Of a total of 1,971 blocks involved in the programme, 62% have undergone improvement works, The whole programme is scheduled to be completed by March 1984. Improvements are also being incorporated into all new blocks.

The HDB regularly maintains its lifts to ensure that they work safely and reliably. Maintenance includes fortnightly servicing, annual tests and regular inspections. Data on defects, breakdowns and repair work are also recorded for computer analysis. Such analysis, in fact, reveals that the average number of breakdowns has decreased over the past five years, from 1.18 breakdowns to 0.83 breakdowns per lift per month, i.e. a 29.6% reduction.

On the problem of water seepage, the HDB has since 1980 redesigned walls to minimize the problem. Existing flats with water seepage problems undergo remedial work during the repair and redecoration programme that is carried out every four to five years.

The problem of blocked pipes and systems, however, is difficult to anticipate as it is mainly caused by the indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes that choke the systems. Nevertheless, the HDB has efficient maintenance and repair services to clear blocked systems as and when problems arise.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I must stress that the role of estate maintenance does not belong solely to the HDB. A very important part should be played by residents themselves to ensure that the environment they live in is clean, healthy and properly taken care of. Hon. Members will. agree that many of the maintenance problems in our HDB estates are caused by residents themselves. Two ready examples are the misuse of lifts and the blockage of drainage pipes. It is therefore necessary to make residents more conscious of estate maintenance. The HDB, on its part, constantly improves the quality of its maintenance services. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it has the most comprehensive system of property maintenance in Singapore or perhaps even in the region, a system which operates through a network of 33 Area Offices equipped with many teams of Housing and Maintenance Inspectors.