S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 16 Aug 10;
SINGAPORE: Singapore's NParks has intensified its tree inspection and pruning efforts, given the recent bad weather.
In his written replies to a question in Parliament, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said since May this year, over and above a monthly inspection of 15,000 trees, NParks has inspected another 3,200 large mature trees in areas with high vehicular traffic.
It has also carried out pruning and crown reduction to reduce the weight of the foliage and enhance the stability of these trees during rainstorms.
He said NParks will continue with this intensified tree inspection and pruning regime.
"Even with these efforts, it is not possible to guard against all tree failures, as healthy trees can also be affected by gusty winds and heavy rainfall. NParks will continue to do its best to minimise risks of tree failures. It is currently reviewing its tree management programme in response to increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. This includes exploring new technology to better assess the condition of trees," he said.
A 32-year-old man, Chua Loong Wai, was killed on the July 20 when a tree fell onto his car during a thunderstorm along Yio Chu Kang Road.
-CNA/wk
