Joo Chiat residents urge consultation on flood preventive measures

Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid Channel NewsAsia 25 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE : National water agency PUB said it is looking at expediting drainage improvement systems and an early warning system for residents in the Joo Chiat area affected by the floods.

Residents are also urging for in-depth consultations, before more measures are drawn up.

These were raised at a dialogue sessions with residents at the Siglap South Community Centre on Sunday.

Residents were given a briefing on some of the flood preventive measures that PUB is looking into. These include raising the road levels of residential areas most prone to floods.

Residents will also be given sandbags and flood boards to prevent water from going into their homes.

An outlet drain between Tembeling Road and Ceylon Road will also be widened and deepened. PUB said tenders will be called by next year.

Work is also underway to widen and deepen the major Siglap Canal.

However, some were still concerned.

"People like us who live just next to the canal, no matter how much sandbags there are going to be, it is not going to help," said one Joo Chiat resident.

Some residents also suggested putting a barrage at the canal.

"The Siglap Canal has helped for the past many years. We will definitely look into whether there's the need to further widen and deepen the Siglap Canal. We have to do this all the way down to the sea," said Tan Nguan Sen, director of Catchment and Waterways, PUB.

He continued: "The suggestion of putting the barrage into the Siglap Canal, we seriously have to look into it, because it will be a lot of money and we need to find land to build a pumping station. All these will require study.

“I think there are other alternatives beside sandbags... We can install flood barriers, (which) can be automatically or manually operated, so that when it rains this barrier can be raised, to prevent the water from going into the car parks.”

But residents want further consultation.

Rajan P Dorai Rajan, a resident at Ettrick Terrace suggested: "Go down and talk to the residents, they know more information about that area, gather their feedback, before you put the drawing board work on the ground."

Tan said this is something PUB will do.

There's also the possibility of forming a community response group to alert and advice residents on floods.

Chan Soo Sen, MP for Joo Chiat said: "We would probably go visit all the residents and… (tell them) we are going to form a taskforce, to help to network with PUB on emergency response in case there is a flood. (We’ll get) their home number, address and come up with a register.

“If there's going to be a flood, what is the advice from the PUB and then we get the grassroots leaders to call them one by one. So we are offering this kind of liaison network. It can help the residents feel more assured, more secured and empowered."

MP Chan said the taskforce wants to be part of a bigger emergency response plan that he hopes the government will consider.

On its part, PUB said it is constantly monitoring the weather and doing checks around Singapore. It has some 90 staff on high alert round the clock.

It said contractors are also cleaning and inspecting drains around the island, with 360 on standby, ready for activation at any time to help the public. 15 tankers and 20 pumps are also on standby.

PUB will continue to meet with residents affected by the recent floods. - CNA /ls

Fighting future floods
Early warning system to alert Joo Chiat residents to future incidents
Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid Today Online 26 Jul 10;

SINGAPORE - A community alert and response network to fight future floods could take shape in Joo Chiat, if Member of Parliament Chan Soo Sen has his way.

Speaking at a dialogue session between Joo Chiat residents and the Public Utilities Board, Mr Chan said a taskforce could be set up to collect information like phone numbers and addresses of residents.

This information would be compiled into a register and - should a flood strike - grassroots leaders would be activated to call and warn residents.

"We are offering this kind of liaison network," he said. "If anything, it can help residents feel more assured, more secured and empowered."

Mr Chan added that the taskforce wants to be part of a bigger emergency response plan that he hopes the government will consider.

During the dialogue session held at Siglap South Community Centre yesterday, PUB promised to improve the drainage system in Joo Chiat and will set up an early-warning system for them.

Works are also underway to deepen and widen the Siglap Canal, a major water artery in the area that is linked to the sea.

Residents shared with PUB their experiences during the recent flash floods, with the one on July 17 hitting them hard.

Some even suggested building a barrage across the canal.

PUB director for catchment and waterways Tan Nguan Sen replied that for a barrage to be built, land has to be set aside for a pumping station, adding that flood barriers could be installed instead.