SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has launched the Kallang River-Bishan Park project, part of the Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme.

The programme is a masterplan to transform Singapore's water catchment areas into community spaces for recreational activities.

The Kallang River-Bishan Park project, the first of its kind in Singapore, will integrate the existing canal with the park.

Upgrading works will be carried out, including the installation of three new playgrounds – Adventure Playground, Water Playground and Bubble Playground.

New community areas, such as a river promenade, quiet spaces in the park and a dragonfly pond, will also be created. Moreover, the park will be linked to Marina Reservoir by a park connector.

Speaking at the launch on Saturday, Mr Lee said everyone must play their part to keep the environment clean.

"We need everybody to cooperate and help keep our parks and waters clean. In fact, our estates have to be clean too because when it rains in our estates, that litter or plastic bag which you just dropped will be washed into the drains, will be washed into the streams, into the canals, the river and into the reservoir and finally, PUB will have to spend money to take it out and clean up the water before you can drink it," he cautioned.

The Kallang River-Bishan Park project is one of more than 20 under the ABC Waters Programme to be carried out by 2011. Three pilot projects at Kolam Ayer, Bedok Reservoir and MacRitchie Reservoir are already completed.

Another project, the Marina Barrage, has been well-received, attracting more than half a million visitors since its opening last year. Nine other projects are currently under construction, with eight others slated to start in 2010.


- CNA/so