Working on flood controls in Singapore

Straits Times 23 Nov 09;

THE Member of Parliament overseeing Bukit Timah has assured residents that national water agency PUB will act fast to widen and deepen a diversion canal to prevent a repeat of last Thursday's flood.

Work on the canal leading from the main Bukit Timah canal will begin in the third quarter of next year, said Mr Christopher de Souza, who is part of the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC team of MPs.

The 3km canal stretching from Sixth Avenue to Sungei Ulu Pandan burst its banks last Thursday, when Bukit Timah was drenched by 110mm of rain. Flood waters were knee-high in some places.

Aside from expediting the canal works, Mr de Souza will look into getting private buildings in the area to enhance measures to prevent flooding in their basement carparks.

'We'll work with PUB to encourage the management to build physical crests to prevent water from flowing into the carparks,' he said.

The underground carparks in three buildings in the area - two condominiums and the 6th Avenue Centre - were flooded last Thursday, running up huge repair bills for owners of several cars.

In the Tessarina condominium in Wilby Road, cars parked in the basement were almost fully underwater after rainwater surged down the ramps at the entrance to the carpark. About 100 vehicles were then in the 500-lot facility.

'I empathise with residents affected by the flood, especially those whose cars had to be towed away,' said Mr de Souza, adding that building the crests would forestall a repeat of this kind of damage and costs.

Residents interviewed called for more to be done to ensure that drains are covered and bordered by railings so people do not fall into swollen canals when the water level is high. Some also suggested that an emergency radio station be set up to broadcast news updates.

MAVIS TOH