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A solution above ground?
Letter from Dr Huen Yeong Kong
As a retired engineer, I think it is premature to announce that there is no engineering solution to the repeated flooding problems.
It is true we have no space at ground level to widen all the drains. But a well designed, above-ground canal network would intercept at least 25 per cent of the heavy downpour and save Singapore from most flooding.
Yes, it is expensive, but it is not impossible because these superstructures would also support solar panels and provide shade that would save air-conditioning energy cost.
This is a win-win situation, so why have our civil engineers not pointed this out?
Surely there’s a way?
Letter from James Ang
I refer to the article “No way to prevent floods: MM Lee” (June 22). Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that “whatever we do when we get extraordinary rains like we had recently, no amount of engineering can prevent flooding”.
With all due respect to Mr Lee, his remark is disappointing, coming from an inspirational leader who has taken a 600‑qkm island with squatters and swamps to a 700‑q-km First World nation with an unmatched infrastructure in this region.
I was expecting a “never-say-die” attitude, challenging PUB’s engineers to come up with an innovative solution.
The official cause of the floods has changed from
a “once-in-50 years” event,
to a culvert in Tanglin,
to a by-product of Typhoon Conson,
to the Stamford canal
—and I am not confident if PUB has really nailed the root cause or causes to be able to develop a holistic solution.
Mr Lee’s view also seems in contrast to the PUB CEO’s statement that the flood in Orchard Road was “unacceptable”.
Singapore has overcome so many insurmountable obstacles over the years.
Citizens have always backed the authorities when a tough but practical decision has to be made to solve a problem, and I expect more challenges ahead —but a defeatist attitude is surely not the way forward.
Singapore has always overcome the odds — why not a flooding problem?
MERiTO-CRACY ? ? ? ?
PETERO-CRACY ? ? ? ?
teeth53 ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 23:34) Posted:
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aiyoh, so much water liao,. still wants to urinate. :)
This recent flood has caused and brought upon 'New issues of insurance claims and policies changes'. Now Insurance companies try to avoid accepting insurance against those affected areas. They only want to do '包吃‘type of business. Keep collecting money but dont wish to pay.
Laulan ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 16:25) Posted:
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Then this is the failure project, they built this "barlarge" to collect water and in 20 yrs time will be reservoir with plain water and not sea water.
They might as well "pank tiao" (hokkien) or release of all the water in "barlarge" and let it go lor !"let it go, let it go let it go !!!!"
iPunter ( Date: 23-Jul-2010 08:48) Posted:
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Personally, I think one good way to ensure floods are minimised in the city area
would be to release and lower the water which is dammed up the Barrage at the river mouth.
If this is done, regardless of low tide or high tide,
there may be no more floods in the city area in the future.
Thus, the rivers will be free to carry out their natural function of ensuring a dry land
and the dry underground soil will then help to absorb a lot of heavy rainfall when it comes.
But the trade-off will be a loss of reservoir water. Therefore, a priority needs to be found.
*This is only a layman's non-technical opinion.
Almost every year got flooding and now said almost near impossible to control. I wanted to LOL.
and every years Taboleh Tahan leh...collecting million of dollars in salary oso cannot this, cannot that.
Now leow Lee said not possible, trying to be too protective of what ?.
Now oso don't know what to do, except trying their best. Got plenty of water feeling lost.
Then why need to spend so much money in such project when it can't do the job? The worse is the flood is cause by the engineering of flood control. Since this is a failed project, aren't someone top need to be answerable to it. A resignation?
Aiyo yo, MM Lee says no amount of engineering can prevent flooding
Taboleh Tahan leh....collecting million of dollars in salary oso cannot this, cannot that.
Taboleh sini, taboleh sana. Then who can huh ?. Malaysia boleh huh ?. like that seow liao.
Sinjiapor no water, say no water. Now so plenty of water around us, oso do know what to do.
"Le kong si me" (hokkien), what talking you ? Last time after catch thief, last time police is as good as thief in the old days !!!
niuyear ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 13:12) Posted:
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knightrider ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 11:37) Posted:
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Oh, also remember,, those cycling gadgets, like that types that protect the balls, must be in hot market right now.
Too much riding on bicycles is not good for the sperm production due to restric blood flow when prolong sitting on the bike. (imagine crushing our precious little things with those hard seats of the bike? ) No wonder china nationalities only got ONE child or no child. lol
pharoah88 ( Date: 22-Jul-2010 11:36) Posted:
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What price Flooding?
Homeowners worried property values in flood prone areas could fall
ESTHER NG AND LEO NG WEE KEAT
estherng@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE
“It’s already clear in people’s minds which areas are flood-prone. This could dampen demand and prices for these places,” said ERA’s Asia-Pacific associate director Eugene Lim, who reckoned that both residential and commercial premises could take a hit of 10 to 15 per cent.
While it is unlikely that homeowners will rush to sell their property, “potential rental values” in these areas, which include Telok Kurau, Opera Estate and Thomson, “could possibly be affected”, he added.
Ngee Ann Polytechnic lecturer Nicholas Mak agreed: “There’s always a risk that flooding will damage cars, paintwork, plants or cause the electrical system to short circuit, something which tenants will bear in mind.”
Mr Faiek Peck, a tenant at one of the townhouses on Gentle Road, off Dunearn Road, told MediaCorp on Tuesday that he planned to move out. “We’re discussing with the owner whether we can get out of the contract or not ... If he’s not willing to improve the situation to do something to prevent it again, we’ve got to see what we can do, get lawyers involved and get out of here,” he said.
While some homeowners may want out, buyers may not want to buy, said Mr Mak.
This was on the mind of a homeowner at the Gentle Reflections development, who has been staying at a hotel with her family of four since last Saturday’s flood.
Declining to be named, she said: “Who’s going to buy now after the bad publicity?”
# CONTRARIAN WILL BUY ? ? ? ? #
Yet, in the past few days, Knight Frank’s head of business unit Daniel Leong has received a few calls from buyers interested in Tessarina, a development along Wilby Road which has been hit twice by the floods, the first in November last year.
“They’re hoping the owners would give up and sell at rock-bottom prices,” said Mr Leong. “But these owners are not moving.
If they have to sell, it’s because they need a quick sale, but homeowners in Bukit Timah are solid financially.”
While property consultants agree that property values in flood-prone areas may head south if flooding becomes a regular occurrence and flood-alleviating solutions prove ineffective, it is “too early to see longlasting change in buying and renting preferences”, said Mr Karamjit Singh, managing director of real estate consultancy Credo.
He described the three floods in the last month as “the exception” — a sentiment shared by property firm Cushman & Wakefield’s managing director Donald Han.
“Bukit Timah is famous for flooding [but NOT into the houses ? ? ? ?], yet districts 10 and 11 are the preferred location for prestigious living – people buy with their eyes open,” he said.
— The floodwaters have receded, and the worry now on the minds of some homeowners in low-lying areas is that property and rental prices will follow. Real estate experts have mixed views on whether values will dip or if this is just a premature, knee-jerk reaction.More greenery, better drainage system
If global weather patterns bring more rain — and flooding occurs regularly — developers will need to relook the design of their developments, which could include building multi-storey car parks, architects told MediaCorp.
“It can be aesthetically pleasing with greenery and landscaping, blending in with communal areas,” Singapore Institute of Architects president Ashvinkumar Kantilal said. But this is not always possible to build multi-storey carparks when there are height restrictions. Developers also need to look at the topography of the land, said architect Dean Zhou, 34. “At the moment there’s too much ‘hardscape’. There needs to be more green turf and spaces to absorb the water,” he said.
Improving the drainage system and installing more pumps in a basement carpark are other options. Building a hump of 15cm above the minimum platform level before the entrance of a basement carpark would also help, Mr Ashvinkumar said.
ESTHER NGMore greenery, better drainage system