SOUTHERN ISLANDS AS DUMPING GROUND (Impact on marine life and inhabitants)

The following Question stood in the name of Encik Abbas Abu Amin -

Encik Abbas Abu Amin: To ask the Minister for the Environment what is the proposed plan to make use of part of the southern islands (between Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sakeng) as a "dumping-area" and how this plan, if implemented, will affect marine life and the inhabitants of Pulau Sakeng.

Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed: Question No. 2, Sir.

The Minister for the Environment (Dr Ahmad Mattar): Mr Speaker, Sir, actually this subject had been discussed when the Committee of Supply debated the estimates of my Ministry. However, Sir, for the benefit of the Member for Pasir Panjang GRC and also for the benefit of the people of Pulau Sakeng, I shall go over the facts once more.

Sir, at present the Ministry of the Environment operates the dumping grounds at Lorong Halus and Lim Chu Kang. Currently, we are developing another dumping ground of about 63 hectares next to the existing one at Lorong Halus. These dumping grounds are expected to be exhausted by the year 1997 and thereafter we will need to dispose of our non-incinerable refuse as well as the incineration ash from our incineration plants on an offshore dumping ground. An offshore area east of Pulau Semakau and west of Pulau Sakeng has been safeguarded for this purpose.

Sir, the impact on marine life and also the people of Pulau Sakeng can be controlled by proper design and operation of this dumping ground. For example, there will be no dumping into the open seas and specially constructed impermeable bunds will enclose the dumping site and any wastewater from the site will be treated before discharge into the open sea. The whole dumping operation can therefore be virtually isolated, thus reducing its impact on the surrounding marine environment and also the people of Pulau Sakeng.

Notwithstanding these measures, Sir, my Ministry will monitor the offshore dumping activities to ensure that the surrounding marine environment and the people of Pulau Sakeng are adequately protected.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, how many percent of our refuse are dumped instead of being sent to the incinerators?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: At the moment, about 40% of our refuse are dumped and with the coming into operation of the Senoko incineration plant, now under construction, we need ony dump 15% of our refuse. We can at most incinerate 85% of our refuse. The remaining 15% has got to be dumped.