Singapore - Floods & Droughts 01 (Jun 11 - Dec 11)

[millionairemind]

Police state...

Jul 18, 2010
Photographer handcuffed
By Mavis Toh

THE flood last Saturday morning not only dampened the mood of residents who woke up surrounded by rainwater but also that of photojournalist Shafie Goh.

The 57-year-old veteran Lianhe Wanbao photojournalist was snapping shots of the flood in the Bukit Timah area when he was told by a policeman to move away. Minutes later, he was handcuffed.

What happened before the handcuffs were used is a matter of dispute: Mr Goh said he was asked to go only once and was about to leave when the police handcuffed him. The police, however, said that they had repeatedly asked Mr Goh to leave before they resorted to using force.

Speaking to The Straits Times on Sunday, Mr Goh said he was standing on a manhole trying to get a picture of some partially submerged cars when he was told by an officer to leave.

A police statement released on Sunday, however, said that officers had repeatedly asked Mr Goh to move to a safe place as he was taking photographs in a dangerous position. But the man refused to comply and continued walking along the road divider, snapping pictures.

A spokesman said: 'As he was causing obstruction to the police officer in the discharge of his duties and causing danger to himself and others, the officers decided to restrain him and move him to safe grounds, but the man resisted and put up a struggle.' The officers then had to handcuff him.

[tonylim]

Flash floods stain Singapore's reputation as urban paradise

AFP - 2 hours 7 minutes ago

SINGAPORE (AFP) - – Singaporeans were salvaging cars, soaked belongings and damaged goods on Sunday after a third flash flood in two months submerged low-lying areas of the city-state.

Shops and houses along posh Orchard Road were again hit by floods on Saturday after heavy rain overwhelmed the drainage system of the wealthy metropolis, which is often lauded for its excellent urban management.

The flooding took place just before parliament was to debate the issue on Monday following public clamour for explanations for earlier floods, which are normally associated with neighbouring capitals like Manila and Jakarta.

Residents in affected houses hauled out sodden furniture and opened windows and doors on Sunday after muddy water from overflowing canals receded.

"We never had floods like that," said Peter Wong, 49, a long-time resident in a row of houses in eastern Singapore invaded by calf-high floodwaters on Saturday.

"Everything was gone, the carpets as you can see are damaged, the bottom of all the sofa seats are still soaking wet now, after 24 hours. We had to replace a new fridge, the fridge is totally damaged," Wong told AFP.

"I'm trying to keep a cool head over this but it is frustrating. My life is disrupted," added the hotelier, who failed to take out insurance against "acts of God" like floods.

The Straits Times said some restaurants lost live fish stored in tanks.

A major highway was also closed for two and a half hours, while motorists and commuters had to be rescued from stranded vehicles, but there were no reports of major injuries.

Saturday's flash floods were the third since June 16.

Flash floods were a rare occurrence in Singapore until recently, with a climate expert interviewed by the Straits Times attributing the problem to regional weather phenomena such as Typhoon Conson and Indonesian squalls.

Critics had blasted the Public Utilities Board (PUB) for not being prepared to handle the first two floods, while the department defending itself by saying abnormal weather conditions and clogged drains were to blame.

The flooding issue has become so serious that the Singapore parliament is scheduled to address the problem when it convenes on Monday amid forecasts of more rain.

[-dol-]

May be this is just one of the cracks beginning to show.

My feel is that Singaporeans are relatively one of the most complacent people in today's world - may be the govt has done such a world-class job in sheltering them from the storms of this world. Many people assume that the govt has answers to all perceived and potential problems.

[Aspellian]

Police state...

Jul 18, 2010
Photographer handcuffed
By Mavis Toh

THE flood last Saturday morning not only dampened the mood of residents who woke up surrounded by rainwater but also that of photojournalist Shafie Goh.

The 57-year-old veteran Lianhe Wanbao photojournalist was snapping shots of the flood in the Bukit Timah area when he was told by a policeman to move away. Minutes later, he was handcuffed.

A spokesman said: 'As he was causing obstruction to the police officer in the discharge of his duties and causing danger to himself and others, the officers decided to restrain him and move him to safe grounds, but the man resisted and put up a struggle.' The officers then had to handcuff him.

This is almost like the Bangkok Police and Military asking the MANY Journalists to leave as its very dangerous to take photos during the Red Shirt Riot.

As the Photographers refuse to leave the riot scene and observe the curfew after repeated warnings, the military opened fire and accidently wounded the journalists.

[winston]

BUSINESS TIMES - Singapore's water agency has invited businesses on Orchard Road, a new flooding hot spot, to sign up for its SMS alert system so that they would be warned in advance of higher-than-usual water levels.

STRAITS TIMES - A block drained was not the main cause of the floods at Orchard Road a month ago. The Stamford Canal was not able to cope with the big gush of water from two intense bouts of rain over two hours, the environment minister told parliament on Monday.


Source: Reuters

[Poles]

Singapore
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Jul 20, 2010
Marina Barrage reduced flood
By Amresh Gunasingham

THE Marina Barrage helped to prevent flooding in many low lying areas around the city during the recent floods and has done so since it was opened in 2008, Minister for the Environment & Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim said in Parliament on Monday.

Responding to Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Sylvia Lim's question on the role of the barrage in the recent floods, he explained that because the barrage receives water from a large 10,000 ha network of canals and drains, areas located more centrally or further north could still be vulnerable to floods if the drains there do not have the capacity to contain water during an intense downpour.

This was the case in the flooding of Orchard on June 16, which is located more centrally and on higher ground, he added.

Ms Lim had asked the minister to clarify what she termed as 'confusing statements' in the media about the role of the barrage in the floods, pointing out that PUB's Chief Executive Officer Khoo Teng Chye had earlier said it was not to be blamed for the June 16 flooding along Orchard Road.

When opened to great fanfare two years ago, the $226 million Marina Barrage was being touted as the solution to relieve flash floods in low-lying areas around the city.

Explaining the role of the barrage, Dr Yaacob said it played three main roles, that of a freshwater reservoir, to prevent floods as well as for recreational activities. During a rain storm, seven pumps and nine crest gates at the barrage are used interchangeably to release water out to sea depending on the prevailing tidal levels and predictions based on statistical modelling.

the in-flow comes from a huge network of long kangs(big & small)....the volume & velocity of inflow is determine by nature.
the capacity of inflow is determine by your long kang hole....and rate of transfer depends on the water level at the Marina Barrage.......as such it is hard for the outflow to beat the inflow with 7 pumps & 9 gate........
and if we keep opening the gates....knn our water will always be half salt/half fresh in this fresh water reservoir.....
knn i cannot stand this type of sales talk......this is the result of putting wrong guy at the place....

[kennynah]

dun understand what he talking about ahmad...chekup apa?

whatever that barrage is, it didn't seem to be doing the necessary job of preventing floodings or at least if it did prevent more frequent floodings, i'm not aware...

anyways... jacob abraham needs to learn how to communicate effectively... if enough people dun understand what he says...even if he spoke in perfect english... then, he's failed...

... anyways, you will remember that we have a very selected few indian and malay pilots in our rsaf.... oh we all know, how that came about... just so some insecure people from a distance feel better... in this case, same same lah.... jacob in his position to make a small group feel better as well.... so, dont expect much lah....


i think, in future, we may have a

minister of a minister in a minister's office without portfolio of energy ministry mentor minister (minister of state)

[LenaHuat]

as such it is hard for the outflow to beat the inflow with 7 pumps & 9 gate........

More so when the tide is high. Dr Yaacob was a civil engineer and university lecturer. But it's not fair to pin all responsibility on him. I recall the barrage was conceived during the Labor Chief's watch, this Chief who's telling us to work harder, faster and cheaper. Actually I find that he's a very clear speaker. The causes are multi-fold and so I think PUB need to make structural changes to Stamford Canal, the Barrage, .....and review the whole system of management over drainage matters.

This is the time for civil engineers to join PUB and work on drainage matters. They will shine cuz I think no scholar is interested in such an unglamourous area of specializtion. It's like pathology.

[iam802]

I know a number of civil engineers personally.

Sad to say, most are not in the industry anymore.

[kennynah]

hahah....then it is I who need to attend Engerish lessons at Community Centre... bcos i cannot follow his remarks..

only very few civil engineers become wealthy thru their profession...