PUB appointed as Singapore's coastal protection agency: Masagos
SINGAPORE — From April, national water agency PUB will assume the role of Singapore’s national coastal protection agency, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli in Parliament on Wednesday (4 March).
“With this new responsibility, one agency – PUB – will study, both coastal and inland flooding holistically and develop models to guide our flood protection response,” he said during his ministry’s Committee of Supply Debate. Masagos was responding to questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding Singapore’s efforts to mitigate inland flooding in the face of climate change.
In his Budget speech last month, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that $5 billion would be set aside as an injection for a new coastal and flood protection fund, which is now set to be managed by PUB.
Masagos said, “The investments to undertake coastal and flood protection could cost $100 billion dollars over the next 50 to 100 years.” He noted that the initial amount provided will be used in a “fiscally sustainable manner to support the substantial capital outlay”.
He explained that PUB’s near-term efforts would focus on studying Singapore’s coastal areas to ascertain the type and extent of measures required.
“We will phase efforts and start with the city to East Coast stretch and Jurong Island. The funds will also be used to expand and improve our infrastructure to improve flood resilience,” said Masagos.
He added that the efforts made would also identify new opportunities for urban development.
“For instance, we could reclaim a series of islands offshore, and even connect these islands up by building barrages to create community spaces for Singaporeans and contribute to (flood) resilience. PUB will partner various stakeholders to explore these possibilities,” said the 56-year-old Tampines GRC MP.
Grim predictions
Earlier in his speech, Masagos elaborated on how PUB has spent $2 billion since 2011 on drainage works, including on major projects such as the Bukit Timah diversion canal and Stamford detention tank. Another $190 million is set to be invested in six projects that will commence this year, including the construction of a retention tank under Syed Alwi Road to enhance flood protection in Little India.
The investments will be complemented by technological developments, such as the use of short range radars to better predict and manage heavier rainfall, he said.
“These efforts, however, will not be sufficient with climate change. With climate change, sea levels will rise faster than its natural cycle and, along with heavy rains, will overwhelm drainage systems,” added Masagos.
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