Interim measures being taken to tackle flooding: Tan Chuan-Jin

Channel NewsAsia 1 Nov 13;

SINGAPORE: Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin says interim measures are being taken to tackle flash floods even as the "formal solution" eases into effect.

Posting on his Facebook page on Friday, he said he has met up with the various agencies involved in flood control, adding that he has been briefed on what has been done and the further steps that will be taken.

His comments followed flash floods on 30 October in Bedok and Chai Chee, both in Marine Parade GRC where Mr Tan is an MP.

The sides that he has met include national water agency PUB, the National Environment Agency, the Land Transport Authority and the town council of his ward.

He said they would like to speed things up where possible, but he noted that some of the solutions are "quite major efforts".

Mr Tan added that he has asked the agencies to package the information and disseminate it once it is ready so that the public may know what has already been done.

Mr Tan also said that he has visited the flood sites and will make a few more site visits this weekend.

Citing an example of interim measures, he said a second pump was put in place on Thursday to help deal with the floods in Chai Chee.

In addition, the "road will be raised about 150mm so that cars should be able to clear the waters. We should get this done by end of year. Drains will be widened and deepened. Probably by first quarter of 2014 - at Chai Chee Street," added Mr Tan.

- CNA/ir