COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND NEAR FARRER PARK MRT STATION (Extension of deadline to vacate premises)

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan asked the Minister for Law if residents affected by the compulsory acquisition of land for the North-East MRT line, near the Farrer Park MRT Station, will be given till December 1997 to vacate the premises, as many of them feel that they may be unable to find alternative accommodation by the given deadline, which is March 1997.

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Law): Sir, of the 106 affected lots near the proposed Farrer Park MRT Station, 55 lots are required for the construction of the Farrer Park Station and realignment of Race Course Road and 51 lots for the widening of Tessensohn Road and comprehensive redevelopment of the area. All these lots are scheduled for possession by March 1997.

Sir, Land Transport Authority has advised that in view of the tight schedule for the construction of the North-East line, the 55 lots required for the construction of the Farrer Park MRT station and the realignment of Race Course Road need to be surrendered by March 1997. However, as for the 51 lots required for the widening of Tessensohn Road and comprehensive redevelopment, the date of possession can be deferred to December 1997.

Mr Sinnakaruppan: Sir, most of the residents do not know what compensation they are getting because, as the Senior Parliamentary Secretary says, full compensation means different things to different people. Sennett Estate residents thought that the full compensation is $1.6 million. But they got $1 million. So most of the residents will be told how much they are getting by the end of September and given the fact that it takes more than three months to do a transaction, they have less than three months left to look for alternative properties. On that basis, will residents who are affected be given an extension until December 1997?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, we have looked at the request very carefully, in terms of all the 106 lots. But given the tight time schedule for the completion of the whole line, the deadline for these lots cannot be moved, they are on a critical path. It means that if we delay taking possession of these lots, they will have a knock-on effect and the completion of the line may be delayed. So having considered the request of the MP very carefully, LTA has said, "All right. 51 lots can be deferred. But for the other 55 lots, I am afraid they will have to move out, as scheduled by March 1997."

Mr Sinnakaruppan: Sir, I am told by the Land Office and LTA that the first contract starts from Farrer Park Station right up to WTC Station. Is it possible that they start work at WTC where no residents are affected than to start at Farrer Park Station?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, like I said, again, we have to see things in perspective. This is a massive infrastructure project that would take seven years to complete. It must start somewhere. The experts have looked at the entire picture and, unfortunately, for some residents who are affected in the initial phase, they would have to move first. So, like I said, considering everything, we have moved the deadline for 51 lots. But we are unable to move it for the other 55 lots.