Channel NewsAsia 17 Jan 17;
SINGAPORE: National water agency PUB on Tuesday (Jan 17) said that it will take action against a contractor over flash floods that hit Upper Thomson Road on Christmas Eve.
On Dec 24 last year, businesses in the area were flooded with knee-deep water after heavy rain. Reports said that some of the businesses suffered damage worth thousands of dollars.
An investigation by PUB at the nearby Upper Thomson MRT station construction site found that the contractor, Sato Kogyo, had carried out works that affected the public drainage system.
“A temporary diversion drain constructed by the contractor within the worksite was found to be undersized, and the contractor did not inform PUB prior to the commencement of these works,” PUB said.
A public drainage system across Upper Thomson Road, near Lorong Mega, was also found to have been altered by the contractor without approval, it said.
The agency said it will take action against the contractor under the Sewerage and Drainage Act. The contractor has also been instructed to carry out rectification work to improve the drainage in the area.
“Contractors must seek approval from PUB and notify PUB before carrying out any works affecting the stormwater drainage systems within and near their construction sites to ensure that these do not affect the functioning of the public drainage system,” PUB said.
Contractors may be fined up to S$50,000 for works affecting the public drainage system, and up to S$20,000 for unauthorised alteration of the public drainage system.
CANAL WIDENING WORKS TO BE EXPEDITED: LTA
In response to queries from Channel NewsAsia, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said it has been widening the existing canal along Upper Thomson Road and Jalan Keli as part of construction works for the Upper Thomson MRT station.
It added that Sato Kogyo is currently carrying out canal widening works along Jalan Keli where a temporary canal needs to be constructed. "Due to the narrow site conditions along Jalan Keli, the contractor was not able to achieve the desired width, resulting in a localised constriction," an LTA spokesperson said.
LTA added that since the flash flood incident, it has instructed Sato Kogyo to expedite the completion of the canal widening works. "Once the canal is complete, it will improve the recurring flash flood situations at Jalan Keli," said the spokesperson.
- CNA/cy/am
PUB to take action against MRT contractor over works that caused Upper Thomson floods
Today Online 17 Jan 17;
SINGAPORE — Sato Kogyo had carried out unauthorised works that affected the public drainage system, and the national water agency PUB will be taking action against the company, it said after it carried out investigations into the Upper Thomson flooding incident.
The works carried out had contributed to the flooding, which took place on Christmas Eve, filling the area with knee-deep water. Some of the businesses in the vicinity were reported to have suffered damage worth thousands of dollars.
In a statement on Tuesday (Jan 17), the PUB said after the incident, it carried out an investigation at the Upper Thomson MRT station construction site and found that Sato Kogyo had carried out works that affected the public drainage system. Sato Kogyo had earlier been awarded the contract for the station’s construction.
“A temporary diversion drain constructed by the contractor within the worksite was found to be undersized, and the contractor did not inform PUB prior to the commencement of these works.
“The public drainage system across Upper Thomson Road (near Lorong Mega) was also found to have been altered by the contractor without PUB’s approval.”
The contractor, which has been told to carry out rectifications to improve the drainage in the area, will also be facing action under the Sewerage and Drainage Act, PUB said.
Contractors may be fined up to S$50,000 for works affecting the public drainage system, and up to $20,000 for unauthorised alteration of the public drainage system.
In its statement, PUB noted that contractors must seek approval from the agency and notify it before carrying out any works affecting the stormwater drainage systems within and near their construction sites. This is to ensure that these do not affect the functioning of the public drainage
system.
“They must not construct, alter, discontinue or close up any stormwater drain without approval from PUB. PUB takes a serious view of unauthorised works on the public drainage system,” it added.
PUB takes action against contractor responsible for Upper Thomson flood
Lydia Lam, The New Paper AsiaOne 18 Jan 17;
Singapore's national water agency PUB will take action against a contractor for carrying out unapproved drainage works at Upper Thomson.
The unauthorised drainage diversions led to flooding last month that cost businesses thousands of dollars.
PUB investigations showed that the contractor, Sato Kogyo, had constructed an undersized temporary diversion drain at the Upper Thomson MRT station construction site.
The contractor failed to inform PUB before constructing the drain, PUB said in a press release yesterday.
Upper Thomson Road was flooded on Christmas Eve last year after a heavy downpour.
The drain at the construction site was choked, leading to a flash flood.
Eight businesses there were affected by the flood, The New Paper reported last month.
PUB said it would be taking action against Sato Kogyo under the Sewerage and Drainage Act and has also instructed the contractor to carry out rectification works to improve drainage in the area.
It said in a release: "Contractors must seek approval from PUB and notify PUB before carrying out any works affecting the stormwater drainage systems within and near their construction sites to ensure that these do not affect the functioning of the public drainage system.
"They must not construct, alter, discontinue or close up any stormwater drain without approval from PUB.
"PUB takes a serious view of unauthorised works on the public drainage system."
Contractors who carry out works that affect the public drainage system can be fined up to $50,000, and up to $20,000 for unauthorised alteration of the system.
LOSSES
The Roti Prata House, one of the businesses affected, lost about $15,000.
Mr Syed Ridzwan, 39, a waiter at the eatery, told TNP that they had to repair three chillers.
He said: "We don't get any benefit from PUB fining the contractor. We already suffered the losses, and we spent $2,000 repairing the three chillers."
Udders, an ice cream parlour, was also affected.
The director of Udders, Miss Wong Peck Lin, told TNP: "Our first concern is that it should not happen again because it was a disruption of business. We're trusting that the people in charge will ensure that the drainage will be cleared."
She added that its estimated loss was $3,000, including damaged products and lost business.
