MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

DR AHMAD MATTAR Minister for the Environment

The Ministry will continue to strive to make Singapore a model environmental city, with a high standard of environmental cleanliness and with citizens who are mindful of their social responsibilities.

The treatment capacity of Kranji Sewage Treatment Works will be doubled with the commissioning of its extension in 1990. The Bedok Sewage Treatment Works will also be extended, to increase its treatment capacity by 50 per cent. It will be completed in three years.

Phase IIA of the Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Project will be completed by July 1990. More drainage projects will be undertaken as new areas are developed. Our rivers and waterways will be kept clean.

The third incineration plant presently under construction at Senoko will be completed in 1992. We will then be able to deal with all the incinerable refuse generated in Singapore till the turn of the century. To meet our long-term needs, we will study the development of an offshore site off Pulau Semakau for disposing non-incinerable refuse and ash. We will also encourage and support the recycling of wastes.

To maintain the quality of the ambient air, we will continue to ensure that industrial emissions comply with international standards. The Ministry will work with the Registry of Vehicles to control emissions from motor vehicles. We will progressively tighten emission standards for diesel vehicles imported into Singapore over the next two years, and take enforcement action against vehicles emitting excessive amounts of smoke.

To improve the living environment, the Ministry will introduce legislation to control excessive noise at worksites.

We will continue to ensure that hazardous chemicals are handled, managed and disposed of safely. To protect the ozone layer, consumption of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons has been reduced to 1986 levels, and will be reduced further by 1993.

To improve the standard of public health, the Ministry will continue its drive to raise the standard of hygiene and cleanliness in all food outlets. We will continue to conduct food hygiene courses. Only persons with adequate working knowledge of food hygiene will be allowed to operate as food vendors. We will also continue to inspect food factories and promote mechanised production methods to ensure that food are produced under hygienic conditions.

Public participation in environmental protection and improvement is vital. We will launch more vigorous long-term educational programmes to instil a greater sense of social responsibility and concern for the environment among Singaporeans.

The annual Tree Planting Day will be expanded into a Good Environment Week, starting this year.