Watching the waters
Leong Wee Keat Today Online 10 Jan 11;
Singapore - Like security personnel watching out for unwelcome guests via closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, the PUB may soon be using similar equipment to monitor the presence of an unwelcome guest - floods.
The national water agency plans to install six cameras along Bukit Timah Canal and Jalan Haji Alias outlet drain, which will allow the PUB to remotely monitor the situation in real-time in the event of heavy rain.
The PUB currently monitors road situations through the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) network of video cameras, but this is not enough. "We are installing more to ensure that PUB staff are able to monitor critical areas not covered by the LTA network," a PUB spokesperson said.
According to tender documents, the six designated locations are: Pei Wah Avenue, King's Road, opposite Hillcrest Road, Anamalai Avenue, Coronation Road West (near Jalan Haji Alias) and Swiss Club Road.
If the six-month trial proves successful, the PUB says it will eventually roll it out to other flood-prone areas that do not have CCTV cameras.
While residents and tenants welcomed the move, some developments previously affected by floodwaters are not taking their chances. The Tessarina condominium along Wilby Road is installing two waist-high floodgates at its entrance to prevent floodwaters from entering its basement car park.
The gates will close when the nearby Bukit Timah Canal is 90 per cent full, MediaCorp understands.
And works to raise nearby Wilby Road by half a metre are complete.
Drainage improvement works for the stretch of Bukit Timah Canal from Jalan Kampong Chantek to Maple Avenue commenced in late November, last year.
Scheduled to be completed by December next year, this is the first stage of an overall drainage scheme to improve the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal from Bukit Timah Road to Clementi Road.
Some developments are mulling further flood prevention measures.
Sixth Avenue Centre's estate managing agent, for example, has asked PUB to study the possibility of raising Anamalai Avenue and adjacent roads. A road hump will also be constructed at its car park entrance - the building's "weak point" - to alleviate the flooding.
While he welcomes the measures, restaurant owner Hareesh Kumar, 34, is not leaving things to the authorities or the building management.
Besides attending to patrons' needs, he has been keeping a close watch on the weather and the surrounding drains this past week.
Floodwaters had previously submerged several vehicles in the basement carpark of Sixth Avenue Centre, where Mr Hareesh's restaurant is located and where he parks his van.
He said: "If it rains heavily, I will quickly run a check on the carpark.
"Ultimately, the management is not responsible if something happens. We just have to keep a close eye ourselves."
PUB would do its part to handle flooding issues: Yaacob
Ong Dai Lin Today Online 10 Jan 11;
When asked if he thought he would be in the hot seat at the coming General Elections over the flood incidents, Environment Minister Yaacob Ibrahim replied: "As far as Jalan Besar GRC is concerned, we are always ready."
Speaking to reporters at a community event, Dr Yaacob, who is an MP for Jalan Besar GRC, added: "Since the last election, we have been rolling out our five-year plan. We have been finding ways and means to make the entire place as pleasant as possible. So, we will be ready for the contest."
Asked if the floods would be a factor in the areas that were affected, he said the PUB would continue to do its part to handle flooding issues.
"We have to wait and see. And if it becomes a hot topic, we'll have to deal with it."
Unusually heavy rain triggered three massive floods between June and July last year, damaging homes and property.
Orchard Road saw its worst floods in 26 years, with shops at Liat Towers and the Lucky Plaza basement flooded. On Nov 19, 2009, Bukit Timah was badly affected when almost 110mm of rain fell in two hours. Ong Dai Lin
Will floods be dampener? We'll see: Yaacob
Straits Times 10 Jan 11;
MINISTER for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim responded to media queries yesterday on whether the recent floods in Singapore will result in a tougher fight for him in the general election, widely expected to be held this year.
In the past nine months, flash floods had hit many areas, such as Jalan Besar, MacPherson, Upper Changi, Shenton Way and, most notably, twice at the premium shopping belt in Orchard Road.
Replied the Jalan Besar GRC MP: 'As far as Jalan Besar GRC is concerned, we are always ready. Since the last election, we have been rolling out our five-year plan, we have been finding ways to make the place as pleasant as possible. So we will be ready for the contest.'
On the floods, he said: 'We will have to wait and see. The PUB will continue to do their part to handle this. PUB has already updated the media on our efforts in Orchard Road and other areas. If it becomes a hot topic, we have to deal with it.'
The opposition National Solidarity Party has shown interest in contesting in Jalan Besar GRC during the next general election. In 2001 and 2006, it contested under the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) banner.
In the 2006 election, the People's Action Party team beat the SDA team by winning 69.3 per cent of the votes.
TEO WAN GEK
PUB to fight floods with CCTV
Straits Times 11 Jan 11;
NATIONAL water agency PUB is turning to security cameras as it extends its network of monitors in the flood-prone area of Bukit Timah.
It plans to install five closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras along the Bukit Timah Canal and one at the Jalan Haji Alias outlet drain near Coronation Road West.
A PUB spokesman said this trial study to monitor real-time conditions in places such as outlet drains and low-lying areas aims to 'allow PUB to respond even faster' to areas prone to flash floods during intense storms.
She added that the CCTV cameras will complement PUB's current flood management initiatives such as water level sensors installed in key canals and drains.
To date, PUB has installed 90 such sensors, including at points in the Bukit Timah Canal near Blackmore Drive and Prince of Wales Road.
PUB's call for tender, which closes today, indicates that it is looking at a system that will allow images captured by the solar-powered CCTV cameras to be accessed via mobile broadband services on devices such as laptops and iPads.
The spokesman added that although it now monitors road situations through the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) network of cameras, the additions will help it 'monitor critical areas not covered by the LTA network'.
If the six-month trial is successful, there are plans to roll it out at other flood-prone areas.
A similar initiative has been undertaken independently by the residents of the Tessarina condominium in Bukit Timah Road. Two months ago, the condominium had a CCTV camera installed on the top floor of one block.
The camera overlooks the Bukit Timah Canal and is monitored by the condo's security guards. Once the canal is 90 per cent full, they will activate the condominium's flood barriers.
The condominium's underground carpark was flooded in November 2009 and again in July last year, causing damage to cars that ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Tessarina resident Audrey Tan, 38, said: 'PUB's CCTVs are a good measure to have for real-time monitoring and an excellent addition to our condominium's CCTV monitoring.'
HUANG LIJIE
