PUB - So many clogged drains. No wonder there's dengue.

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3052.aspx

What Bugs Me

Posted on 21 May, 2007

From Yew Tee to Bukit Timah, one STOMPer has spotted potential dengue hotspots at clogged drains around Singapore. Regular STOMP contributor, 51-year-old AG Lee, most recently emailed STOMP about his concerns about the rise in dengue cases in Singapore, and wonders if clogged drains like these might contribute to this worrying trend.
He came across these drains clogged with rubbish near a bus shelter at the Yew Tee industrial estate (main picture).
He also spotted a similar sight near the Anak Bukit flyover along Bukit Timah Road, where rubbish and overgrown grass had been clogging up the drains there (pictured below).

He wondered if there could be more done by the authorities to prevent these spots from turning into dengue danger zones.

STOMP has contacted the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the PUB for comment. Watch this space.

What Bugs Me
Posted on 26 May, 2007

PUB: Drains at Yew Tee cleaned up

The drains at Yew Tee have been cleaned up, says the PUB. Mr Tan Nguan Sen, Director, Catchment and Waterways sent STOMP this email about the action taken by the agency, thanks to alert and concerned STOMPer A G Lee. "PUB, the national water agency thanks Mr AG Lee for his feedback on the drains in Yew Tee Industrial Estate and Bukit Timah. The drains have been cleaned up. Our drains and canals are linked to our reservoirs and channel rainwater there as one of our sources of drinking water. Drains are cleansed regularly and when an area is found to be more litter-prone, the frequency of cleansing will be increased to prevent litter from clogging our drains. We call on the public to help keep the drains and canals clean and litter-free.

We welcome the public to give us any feedback at 1800 2846600.

"Keep up the good work, STOMPers. You have made so many changes as a result of your contributions. Keep them coming!

Ang Mo Kio MRT Walkway

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost6096.aspx
In the Heartlands
Posted on 17 Oct, 2007
"What happened to this AMK MRT walkway?"
071012

Aljunied - Why is this drain so dirty?

This Urban Jungle Posted on 15 May, 2007
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost2981.aspx

William Lim, 47, was appalled that the drain behind Aljunied MRT station was dirty and clogged up with rubbish.The production manager was on Geylang Lorong 25A, near the roundabout behind Aljunied MRT station where cars drop off and pick up passengers, yesterday evening (14 May).He was there with a friend at about 5pm to 6pm when he noticed the drain.He told STOMP, “It looked like the drain was not cleared for a long time. The water is stagnant, and there were newspapers and rubbish in there.”“I am so shocked that there is this kind of drain in Singapore.”

Posted on 18 May, 2007
PUB to step up cleaning of drain after posting
http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost3017.aspx

The Public Utilities Board plans to step up on the cleaning of a drain behind Aljunied MRT station on Geylang Lorong 25A, and might even consider covering it up to prevent litter from clogging it. The national water agency said that it already cleans the drain three times a week, after production manager William Lim wrote into STOMP about the terrible condition of the drain. He took a picture of the clogged up drain that was filled with rubbish and contained stagnant water and told STOMP that he was rather shocked that there was such a drain in Singapore. PUB has taken over the maintenance of Singapore drains from the National Environment Agency, from April this year. PUB director of Catchment and Waterways, Tan Nguan Sen is appealing to the public to help keep drains and canals in Singapore, as they are linked to reservoirs and channel rainwater there as a source of drinking water.“ We welcome the public to give us any feedback at 1800 2846600,” he said.

Aljunied - Stone table and chairs removed

"Solve" the old folks playing cards at the void deck problem by removing the stone table and chairs.

http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2007/09/stone-seats-2-t.html

So the Aljunied Town Council has replaced a stone table and 5 stone seats because of gambling activities with these "elderly friendly benches". Er, 2 seats don't make a bench, people.
And how is this an improvement over 5 seats and a table? And how much more accessible are these seats compared to the old round stone ones?
Oh, the traces of the former stone tables and seats have been cemented over too. So nice of them to cover those up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr-brown/1383906187/

This is classic Town Council bozo thinking. Apparently, some old folks play cards here at Block 128 Lorong Ah Soo, and in order to "solve" this gambling problem, the stone table and seats, which have been there for years, were ripped up.Now the whole block is inconvenienced. A grandfather told my dad that he has effectively lost his place to sit to wait for the school bus with his grandchildren.Why not rip up the floor too, in case some old folks gamble standing up?

Letter to a resident who wrote in to ask:
RE: Stone Table and Stools at Blk 128 Lorong Ah Soo
Thank you for your e-mail to Mr Yeo Guat Kwang.
We have received complaints of gambling activities at this stone table and stools . These complaints were brought to the attention of the Police for their investigation and follow up.
On our part, we have a programme to phase out the stone table and stools with more elderly friendly benches under our Barrier Free Accessibility Project. Residents can look forward to use the new benches when they are installed by the end of the week.
RegardsAljunied Town Council

Tampines - 鹅卵石人行道太滑

观点 > 今日观点 2007-11

● 孔德威
　　最近时常下雨，使我想起人行道在雨天的安全问题。
　　在淡滨尼区45街，靠近大牌498K，有一条美丽的行人道。那里有几个斜的横道衔接行人道和车道。每逢下雨，那铺上了彩色鹅卵石的横道，表层变得很滑。我就曾经在那里滑倒了两次。
　　这些美观的人行道，在雨天时对附近居民和路人都非常不安全。万一有人滑倒，跌倒在车道上，有可能被过往的车辆撞伤，甚至对生命造成威胁。
　　我希望有关当局能把这些铺上彩色石子的斜道全部拆除，改建成平坦而便于行走的走道，让居民和残障人士都能使用。

Tanjong Pagar - After

After - 071012

MacPherson - 走道被阻

观点 > 今日观点 2007-11-06

● 林坤德
　　我住在麦波申路177号楼上，在麦波申路和百利道之间的一条公共走道，现在已经成为附近两间咖啡店摆放桌椅和杂物的地方。由于桌椅和杂物堵住去路，一旦不幸发生火患，居民被困在火中无法逃生的事有可能发生。希望有关当局注意并采取适当行动。