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'Not acceptable' for major expressway to close due to flooding: Minister Balakrishnan
Yahoo Newsroom – 19 hours ago
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan said it's "not acceptable" for a major expressway to shut down due to flooding.
He was referring to the early morning floods sparked by a torrential downpour on Thursday which hit mostly the western areas of Singapore and forced the temporary closure of the Ayer Rajah Expressway.
"We're going to need to do some work there," he said.
"We will need some time, but I am confident that we can make an improvement to the situation...I told (national water agency) PUB we've got to do our best to make sure this doesn't recur in the future."
He was speaking on the sidelines of an event at the National University of Singapore.
PUB said in a statement that all four lanes of the Expressway were temporarily closed due to overflowing drains and the rising tide.Flood waters reached a depth of half a metre and subsided within 40 minutes.
PUB said it has plans to upgrade the Sungei Pandan Kechil, which serves this section of the AYE.
"We will need some time, but I am confident that we can make an improvement to the situation...I told (national water agency) PUB we've got to do our best to make sure this doesn't recur in the future."
He was speaking on the sidelines of an event at the National University of Singapore.
PUB said in a statement that all four lanes of the Expressway were temporarily closed due to overflowing drains and the rising tide.Flood waters reached a depth of half a metre and subsided within 40 minutes.
PUB said it has plans to upgrade the Sungei Pandan Kechil, which serves this section of the AYE.
Heavy rain fell over the central and western parts of Singapore from 8.15am to 9.30am. Commonwealth area and Kent Ridge were among the areas hardest hit by flash floods.
Earlier in the day, Dr Balakrishnan posted photos and a note on his Facebook page which said his "regular jogging track was under water".
He said drainage improvement work at Commonwealth Avenue will be completed by June 2015.
"The flooding at AYE will require expansion of the Sungai Pandan Kechil which drains south to the sea and is subject to tidal influence. This is a major project that PUB has been considering. Will have to expedite this," he added.
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- Jonn • Report Abuse
It's equally unacceptable for CPIB deputy director to siphon millions away, for Peoples Association to be hijacked as PAP propaganda machinery, for Ministers to draw salaries that are still highest in the World, for double quick promotion of some, to full Minister status, for 6.9 million white... More
22 Replies - Bale • Report Abuse
This guy is only good at talking or debates and not in resolving problems leave alone foreseeing them.
8 Replies
Expressways that can no longer accommodate traffic if not closed then under what circumstances should it be closed?... More - Flak • Report Abuse
This minister talk like flooding issue is others responsibility !
57 Replies
Has he forgotten this is his area of responsibility ? - Jonathan • Report Abuse
Miss Vivian is one of the most hopeless Minister ever rolled out by the PAP.
13 Replies - Tessa • Report Abuse
What is not acceptable here, is the appointment of an incompetent minister who keeps getting his priorities wrong! Instead of tackling the flood, he updates his Facebook. Instead of tackling Dengue and haze, he wasted half an hour in parliament lecturing about hawker centres cleanliness. Instead of... More
37 Replies - JamesBond • Report Abuse
You mean Expressway Closed Not Acceptable, then you should ask Liu TY to explain why lah? He is in charge of roads, not you what.
18 Replies
Also, during such heavy thunder storm, ERP should be shut down because you collect ERP wont make your journey faster, still jammed what? Open up those ERP controlled...More - Chew Bakar • Report Abuse
Always await for problems to start then scramble for solution. They should know that when more land are build up the drainage need to expand to cope with the usage.
17 Replies - Hansaplast • Report Abuse
After years of happily building more and more building to earn BIG $$$$$. They had forgotten about drainage, brilliant? Or bonkers?
8 Replies - Jonn • Report Abuse
Why are you, oh Bala, crying UNACCEPTABLE, when you and your Yacoob predecessor are the culprits? Just resign.
7 Replies - Yc • Report Abuse
When subordinate PUB doesn't look good......Boss also lose face....Of Course NOT ACCEPTABLE....tsk tsk tsk...wayang......
11 Replies - Truthonly • Report Abuse
Talk, talk and talk. That is one hell of talking!!. You are paid to do the job, just do it and be done with it and STOP TALKING! You may continue to talk about your success in addressing the annual haze ritual, dengue and how you stop the ponding in 2016 election campaign.
3 Replies - Raymond • Report Abuse
Time to change minister of environment. Since Vivian is interested in hawker centre cleanliness, lets create a new hawker centre minster for him.
1 Reply - Jonathan • Report Abuse
It is not acceptable for you to call Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim liars too. You need to do some work there too.
Reply - Hoon • Report Abuse
Overpaid ministers should be proactive and have the talent to plan ahead before rapidly expanding development and population explosion. It's so obvious by now that they're not that talent after all, as claimed.
1 Reply
Who's going to compensate for the damage to vehicles, properties and business loss...More - SBC • Report Abuse
Ooi!!!! Vivian, time for you to quit !!! You just could not SEE things coming !!! Seems your mandate is ' if it's ain't broken, don't fix it ' !!! LKY & EGCT mandate is ' if it's ain't broken, fix it before it's broken ' !!! You do not justify your pay !!! RESIGN !!!
3 Replies - Chua • Report Abuse
It's not only not acceptable, it is totally unacceptable for a minister to say not acceptable only after something big happened. Your pay also not acceptable! What can you do? Just fight with opposition over cleaning of hawker center! You are a unacceptable.....
Reply - Ashley • Report Abuse
Instead of calling PUB and LTA and other agencies to find out first hand about real time situation, when he could direct and intervene in closure of AYE, our dear minister VB WENT JOGGING and put his wet shoes on FB. Perhaps next time rethink priorities, please.
7 Replies - Valiant • Report Abuse
Always act after crisis. Though it isn't a crisis, yet, but when it become a crisis, even you cannot account for it. Balabanana
1 Reply - Spiceup • Report Abuse
Bla bla bla...talk talk talk..nothing happen.....In the end blame other ppl. Blame the rain...
3 Replies
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