LANDSLIDE BEHIND BLOCK 111 DEPOT ROAD

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for National Development if he has ascertained the cause or causes that led to the landslide behind Block 111 Depot Road on Saturday, 3rd March, 1984; what steps will be taken to prevent it from recurring and when these steps will be implemented; and if he can give an assurance that no damage has been done to the structure of Block 111 and that it is still safe.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Teh Cheang Wan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the landslide behind Block 111, Depot Road, occurred on 3rd March, 1984, after exceptionally heavy and continuous rain on the previous day.

The slope behind Block 111 was formed by the PUB in the construction of its Mount Faber Service Reservoir. Although an elaborate network of sub-soil and surface drains had been constructed to drain off rain water from the slope, the ground was saturated by the torrential downpour. This weakened the soil and resulted in the landslide.

The Public Utilities Board has covered up the affected slope with nylon and canvas sheets to prevent further erosion of the soil. The PUB will be cutting back the earth to reduce the steepness of the slope, and will be consulting a firm of soil specialists on additional measures to enhance the stability of the slope.

The HDB, meanwhile, had cleared the debris from the void deck of Block 111. The Board is now constructing a temporary drain at the toe of the embankment to diven the surface water to an existing drain.

Site inspection by the HDB engineers have confirmed that the stability of Block 111 has not been affected by the earthslip and that it is safe.