PUB rolls out flood-prevention works

Ng Puay Leng Channel NewsAsia 17 Nov 11;

SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB is carrying out drainage improvement works in about 20 locations islandwide, including Shenton Way.

This comes as the stretch encountered two flooding incidents last month, with a similar situation occurring in September.

Improvement works along the Shenton Way stretch aim to increase the speed at which rain water joins the main drainage system.

Work started about two weeks ago, but PUB said the drain is a temporary solution.

In the long term, it will widen Shenton Way's existing underground drain, from 60 centimetres, to 75 centimetres.

PUB has also installed a CCTV along the stretch, as well as along Claymore Road.

This is to monitor the flooding situation in real-time.

It said by mid-December, it would have installed 61 CCTVs islandwide.

PUB Catchment & Waterways Department assistant director Choy Wai Kwong said: "The flooding situation (along Shenton way) is not very serious.

"Actually, the flooding incident here two weeks ago only went up to 10cm, and the water receded within 10 to 15 minutes.

"The drainage system here was built in the 70s, so some areas might not be able to handle such a large volume of rain water. So we'll need to improve the drainage system here."

- CNA/wk