SINGAPORE: The Public Utilities Board (PUB) is carrying out drainage works to fix areas hit by last year's heavy floods.

Throughout December and January several places across the island experienced record rainfall – overall 766mm of rain was recorded for December 2006, beating the 1954 record of 681mm.

"It is premature to link the recent occurrences to climate change. Although there is an ongoing study to look into the effects of climate change, we are not going to wait for the results before implementing our flood alleviation projects", says Yap Kheng Guan, PUB’s Director of Drainage.

"We recognise the inconvenience that flash floods can cause to the public and we strive to minimise these disruptions. Every occurrence of extreme rainfall is a test of our drainage system and the flood alleviation measures that we have installed at the various places."

In preparation for such heavy rain, the PUB put in temporary measures last September in high risk places like Commonwealth Avenue.

Among the measures, the agency doubled the number of drainage holes along the Avenue from 10 to 20 holes, but these failed to stop the floods along the Avenue last week.

"Spells of very intense rain put these interim measures to the test. But of course, when January came and we saw another very intense rainfall it shows there is room for improvement", says Mr Yap.

Announcing its flood management plans, the PUB says a S$12.8 million canal at Commonwealth Road is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Work is also planned for Cuscaden Road, and at the junction of Joan and Olive Roads – areas prone to flooding.

At Cuscaden Road, a small dam will be built to slow the flow of water as an interim measure.

Says Mr Yap, "We are fast tracking our plans to raise the road level there. We target to complete this project by June 2007, instead of by October 2007".

At Joan and Olive Roads, a long-term solution to flooding is to replace the earth drain with a larger capacity concrete canal.

This is also expected to be completed by October this year, three months ahead of the original schedule.

The PUB says stopping flash floods is an evolving task, subject to changes in Singapore's landscape and rainfall patterns.

The agency says it checks the three locations every year before the monsoon period, as well as construction sites to see nothing is blocking the surrounding drains. - CNA/so/yy