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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Underground tank to prevent flooding in low-lying Jalan Besar area completed
Located next to Rochor Canal, the Syed Alwi Pumping Station is designed to divert storm water from the upstream of Rochor Canal into an underground tank. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO SINGAPORE – The low-lying Jalan Besar area and parts of Little India are now better protected against floods with the completion of a new pumping station with an underground tank along Syed Alwi Road. Located next to Rochor Canal, the Syed Alwi Pumping Station is designed to divert storm water from the upstream of Rochor Canal into an underground tank. The water is then pumped out of the tank – which is able to hold about 9,300 cubic m of water, or about the total capacity of four Olympic-size pools – into a downstream section of Rochor Canal during and after storms. This ensures that storm drains, which collect rainwater run-off from the Jalan Besar area, are not overwhelmed during intense rain when the water level in the canal is high. The completion of the underground tank was announced by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu in a recorded address at the 2025 Singapore International Water Week Spotlight conference on June 23. 'As ground raising is not possible in (Jalan Besar), the dual-purpose storage and pumping station was conceptualised as an alternative solution to enhance flood resilience,' she said in the video, which was aired at the event held at the Singapore Expo. National water agency PUB, which built the $33 million pumping station, said it 'forms part of PUB's diverse storm water management infrastructure to strengthen Singapore's flood resilience as climate change brings about more frequent and intense rainfall'. The fully automated pumping station, which was completed in June, also has floodgates at the Syed Alwi Road drains that shut to prevent backflow of water from Rochor Canal into the Jalan Besar area. Construction of the Syed Alwi Pumping Station began in 2021, with most of the costs covered by Singapore's Coastal and Flood Protection Fund. The fund, which was set up with an initial injection of $5 billion in 2020, received an additional injection of $5 billion from Budget 2025, to fund both coastal protection and drainage infrastructure. Jalan Besar is a low-lying area that experienced flooding from the 2000s to 2010s. The last time it experienced a flooding incident was on Nov 13, 2014, said PUB. Among the efforts made to combat flooding in the area were the upgrading of drains along Syed Alwi Road and raising road levels in 2014. Rochor Canal, which runs along Sungei Road and Rochor Canal Road towards Marina Reservoir, was also widened and deepened in 2015 to increase its drainage capacity. These measures enhanced flood protection in nearby areas such as Veerasamy Road, Hindoo Road and Desker Road. However, expanding drainage infrastructure and raising ground levels are not feasible for all sites, said Ms Gayathri Kalyanaraman, senior principal engineer for drainage planning at PUB's catchment and waterways department. 'The low-lying Jalan Besar area illustrates this challenge,' she said. It is not possible to raise roads and buildings in the area, which has many heritage buildings such as Masjid Angullia and the shophouse at 75 Maude Road. This is where the new pumping station comes in – enhancing the area's flood resilience. Storm water will accumulate in the underground tank, which is 11m high and has the capacity of four Olympic-sized pools and can hold about 9,300 cu m of water. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO When the water level in the tank reaches 4.5m, the pumps will be automatically activated to discharge water into Rochor Canal via two outlets. When the water level is below 4m, the water will be discharged by two other smaller pumps into the canal. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Two other pumping stations, built in the 1990s, enhance flood resilience in the low-lying Tanjong Katong estate. Despite its efforts to enhance Singapore's drainage infrastructure, 'absolute protection is not possible, and building community resilience is key', said PUB. Stakeholders such as building owners and contractors can ensure proper maintenance of internal drainage systems, and implement flood protection measures according to stipulated guidelines to better protect their properties, it added. Meanwhile, the Syed Alwi Pumping Station has brought more verdancy to the Rochor area, with features like a green roof and green wall. Coming up next to it is an open plaza that will provide a recreational space integrated with nearby Build-To-Order development King George's Heights, which is under construction. As part of efforts to protect Singapore's coasts from sea-level rise, the Republic has divided its coastline into eight stretches, and is conducting separate studies on them to determine the most suitable ways to protect each stretch from future rising seas. Where possible, these solutions will be multifunctional, enhancing the environment and supporting better land use, said Ms Fu. She added that PUB will soon launch a risk assessment study to evaluate eight offshore islands' vulnerability to sea-level rise. This is an expansion of the work being done on the mainland, and more details will be revealed in a few days. Additional reporting by Shabana Begum Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Press on with sustainability for resilience
THE sustainability landscape has seen significant developments in recent months. Following the announcement by the United States on its plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the European Union unveiled the Omnibus Simplification Package on sustainability that includes the delaying of the implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and the Corporate Due Diligence Directive. For the untrained, these developments can look like governments are taking a step back in their push for sustainability. On closer examination, it is anything but that. In fact, the Omnibus Package highlights the EU's recognition that sustainability goes beyond merely reporting. Instead of overcomplicating sustainability reporting and assurance, it seeks to steer companies to focus on the actual measures that can help to reduce carbon emissions. That said, understandably, these sudden policy shifts and regulatory developments can add to the uncertainty that companies face. Some may be misdirected to pause sustainability initiatives or turn their focus towards short-term performance at the expense of potential longer-term gains from environmental, social and governance investments. Investors continue to pay attention to climate risk management and sustainability. More than half of the investors surveyed in the latest EY Institutional Investor Survey said the impact of climate change will affect their investment strategies. These findings underscore the need for businesses to adopt a strategic and pragmatic approach to sustainability. It is important that companies not lose sight of the real purpose of climate change and sustainability actions – that is to go beyond addressing regulatory requirements. Further, sustainability is not just a compliance obligation but also a driver of efficiency, risk management and profitability. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up Stepping up on support for sustainability In February 2025, Singapore pledged to further reduce its emissions to between 45 and 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) by 2035. This builds on the country's earlier announcement to reduce emissions to 60 MtCO2e by 2030. The government has also demonstrated its unrelenting commitment to the fight against climate change through measures such as the S$5 billion top-up to the Future Energy Fund; the increase in Coastal and Flood Protection Fund; as well as disbursement of climate vouchers to Singaporean households. The top-up for the Future Energy Fund supports critical infrastructure for the energy transition – such as undersea cables for low-carbon electricity and hydrogen terminals – and helps foster innovation and technological advancement. Businesses that tap this initiative can potentially enhance resilience and competitiveness. The additional investment into the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund will help to strengthen the country's infrastructure to protect against risks of rising sea levels and storm surges. This is critical for supporting a stable long-term environment and a sustainable future for all. Government interventions aside, achieving national decarbonisation targets will require the collaborative and collective actions of individuals and companies. The journey towards sustainability is not without challenge, even for the most committed organisations. In Singapore, the oft-cited challenges faced are the lack of capital, manpower and knowledge. To this end, Singapore has a robust suite of initiatives to support companies on their sustainability journeys. These include the Enterprise Sustainability Programme (ESP), which is administered by Enterprise Singapore. The programme encompasses a host of initiatives including the Energy Efficiency Grant for the adoption of resource-efficient equipment; the Enterprise Development Grant for Sustainability Projects; the Sustainability Reporting Grant; and the SME Sustainability Reporting Programme (SME SRP). By 2023, more than 4,000 organisations had benefitted from the ESP. These grants from the ESP, together with government-supported green loans, help to alleviate companies' capital burden. For manpower concerns, the Career Conversion Programme for Sustainability supports new hires or transfers from other functions, while the SME SRP and other consultancy support schemes help to provide companies with the necessary knowledge to advance their sustainability initiatives. No room for U-turns As Singapore's ambassador for climate action, Ravi Menon, said: 'We stay the course not because it is easy but because it is necessary for Singapore, so that we can be resilient in a climate-impaired world and competitive in a carbon-constrained world.' Indeed, amid global geopolitical and regulatory shifts, Singapore should and needs to remain steadfast on its position on sustainability. Businesses that proactively adapt to these winds of change while continuing to embed sustainability into their strategies will be better positioned to emerge stronger in the long run. With climate risks continuing, there is no reason for climate action to stop. Praveen Tekchandani and Nhan Quang are the Singapore leader, and partner, for climate change and sustainability services at Ernst & Young LLP, respectively. The views here are the writers' and do not necessarily reflect those of the global EY organisation or its member firms
