New canal or pond for Orchard Road to fight floods
Orchard Road looks to be getting a canal or pond in order to help prevent flooding in the area.
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is studying these options as a means to stop floods from occurring in Singapore’s shopping district, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said at a press conference on Tuesday, wrote The Straits Times.
If a canal is built, it could divert water from the Stamford Canal into the Singapore River.
Orchard Road has flooded no less than three times over the past two years, costing businesses millions of dollars in damages.
On 1 December, the Public Utilities Board will publish a new set of drainage guidelines for new buildings in Singapore, which will be mandatory. Building plans that do not comply will be rejected.
The new guidelines will feature higher platform and crest requirements, and the ability for the building to quickly drain out water during heavy rainfall.
Balakrishnan said that a centralised computer system that monitors rain clouds, temperature, wind direction, rain and water levels in canals and drains is in the works, and a prototype will be ready by 2014.
Thus far, a 1.4km-stretch of road in the shopping strip has been raised, with pop-up flood barriers having been installed in front of Liat Towers as well to protect the shops below road level.
