MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

We have to maintain a high standard of public health and environmental cleanliness and protect our vital water resources.

Water Pollution Control

The Ministry will continue to clean up the Singapore River/Kallang Basin and water catchments. The sources of pollution include the squatter colonies, unsewered premises, street hawkers, motor repair activities and boatyards. Many of the sources of pollution in the Singapore River have been cleared and the water quality has improved significantly making the River a venue for recreational activities. The Kallang Basin also has significant potential for recreational use. However, the presence of boatyards and motor repair activities will not be compatible with this development. We will look into appropriate measures to control pollution from these sources, including their resiting, if necessary.

The programme will be extended to cover all other drainage catchments, commencing with the Katong, Bedok and Siglap catchments which drain into the sea off the East Coast Park.

Air Pollution

The ambient air is clean and pollution levels low. The emission standards set out in the Clean Air Act will be reviewed to ensure that it continues to be effective in maintaining the quality of our ambient air.

The standards foremissions from newly registered petrol-driven cars will be upgraded in 1986 and will be comparable with that of the European Economic Community (EEC). Existing motor vehicles may be subject to periodic emission tests and a test laboratory will be set up for this purpose.

The lead level in petrol will be further reduced from the present 0.4 grammes per litre. We will monitor the move by the developed countries to introduce unleaded petrol to assess its consequential problems.

Diesel piling hammers cause significant air and noise pollution. They may be phased out, if feasible. Environmental Public Health

We will review the existing Code of Practice on environmental public health requirements to ensure a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene, particularly of food establishments, and to streamline procedures.

By the end of 1985, most of the street hawkers would be relocated into permanent centres. The Ministry will now emphasize on the management of these centres and food hygiene.

We will also review and rationalize the refuse collection system in housing estates to improve productivity, particularly as manpower is expected to be more difficult to recruit.

Drainage Control

We will implement flood alleviation measures to reduce localized flooding.

We are studying the feasibility of alleviating flood at Bukit Timah valley by a diversion canal to Sungei Kallang with a barrage at Kallang Basin.

Dangerous Chemicals

Control and legislation on the import, storage, transportation and disposal of dangerous chemicals will be reviewed with other Ministries to prevent major accidents.

Primary Production

Pig farms, which are highly pollutive, will have to phase themselves out as they find they cannot compete against imported live pigs and keep up anti-pollution standards. We will meet our pork requirements by importing live pigs and frozen pork from diverse sources to ensure a steady supply at competitive prices. These will have to meet high standards of quality and hygiene.

Available farmland will be for non-pollutive agricultural uses. We will encourage farms which are commercially viable and use the latest farming technology to produce high quality and value-added primary produce. We will continue to diversify sources and facilitate import of fresh food, including fish and vegetables.

DR AHMAD MATTAR Minister for the Environment