Channel NewsAsia 3 Nov 13;
SINGAPORE: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said the market and food centre at Marine Parade Central will be closed for a few weeks early next year for its drainage system to be redesigned and overhauled.
The measure is meant to resolve recent problems of flooding at the market and food centre, which was built 37 years ago.
The market and food centre is located at the lowest point of Marine Parade Central.
Mr Goh, who is an MP for Marine Parade, made the comments in his Facebook page on Sunday afternoon following a visit to the centre in the morning.
The government's water and environment agencies, as well as grassroots leaders and the town council of the ward were with him on the visit.
Mr Goh said they will discuss with stallholders the best time to close the market and the issues that may arise from the closure.
As a temporary measure, kerbs will be built to keep rain water from flooding the aged drainage system.
Mr Goh noted that apart from not having enough capacity to cope with the high volume of rain water during heavy rains, the sewer pipes suffer from wear and tear. Improper discharge of waste from stalls has also added to the oil sludge and silt.
The market is a sold centre, with the lease expiring in October 2017, Mr Goh said. Stall holders had also turned down upgrading twice.
"But we decided that from the point of flooding, sanitation and sewerage drainage, the overhaul of the present drainage system cannot wait until the lease expires in October 2017," he added.
In nearby Chai Chee, the two pumps installed to ease flooding during heavy rains are reported to be serving their purpose.
Writing on his Facebook page on Sunday afternoon, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said both pumps kicked in when it rained.
He said water levels, which rose for about 15 to 20 minutes, subsided soon after.
Mr Tan, who is also an MP for Marine Parade which includes the Chai Chee area, thanked workers at the location, and volunteers who kept an eye on the flood situation.
- CNA/ac
