LAND ACQUISITION

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Law what are the reasons for adopting the policy of compulsorily acquiring land, without stating the specific purpose or purposes for doing so in many instances.

Mr E.W. Barker: When Government acquires land, the purpose for doing so is always stated. Where private land is required for a specific development, i.e. road widening, Mass Rapid Transit, school development, defence or Housing and Development Board purposes, the Gazette Notification under section 5 of the Land Acquisition Act will always as a matter of policy specifically state so. However, for cases where development is of general nature, i.e. for clearance of dilapidated structure under the Garden City Programme, for sprucing up land within the water catchment boundaries where urbanisation will not be allowed or for clearance of remnant squatters, the public purpose under section 5 in the Gazette Notification will then be stated as "General Development". In the majority of cases, the acquisitions are for specific purposes.