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Jun 19, 2010
ORCHARD FLOOD
Were there lapses?
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ON WEDNESDAY, Orchard Road turned into Orchard Canal. And it was a case of deja vu. I am sure many Singaporeans would have vivid recollections of Bukit Timah Road becoming Bukit Timah River last November.
Commenting on the Bukit Timah flood then, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim said it was a 'freak' event that occurs 'once in 50 years' ('Deluge a 'once in 50 years' event'; Nov 21, 2009). However, it has hardly been a year before we have witnessed flooding again on a similar scale.
The PUB's revelation that a drain clogged with debris likely caused the Orchard Road flood is most disappointing. In this context, it is reasonable to question whether - and to what extent - lapses in the maintenance of the drainage system could have contributed to the flash flood.
Proponents of global warming and climate change have projected that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy precipitation events, may increase over most areas, and may not be 'once in 50 years' events.
According to meteorologists, higher temperatures trap moisture in the atmosphere, resulting in more intense rain and a higher likelihood of floods.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report noted that 'generally, numbers of heavy daily precipitation events that lead to flooding have increased'.
I would like to inquire whether the recently reorganised Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change intends to study the future effects of climate change on Singapore, if any, and formulate mitigation measures to alleviate any undesirable consequences, such as reviewing the capability of our infrastructure to cope with extreme weather events.
Sin Wei Xiang
ORCHARD FLOOD
Were there lapses?
<!-- by line --><!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
ON WEDNESDAY, Orchard Road turned into Orchard Canal. And it was a case of deja vu. I am sure many Singaporeans would have vivid recollections of Bukit Timah Road becoming Bukit Timah River last November.
Commenting on the Bukit Timah flood then, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim said it was a 'freak' event that occurs 'once in 50 years' ('Deluge a 'once in 50 years' event'; Nov 21, 2009). However, it has hardly been a year before we have witnessed flooding again on a similar scale.
The PUB's revelation that a drain clogged with debris likely caused the Orchard Road flood is most disappointing. In this context, it is reasonable to question whether - and to what extent - lapses in the maintenance of the drainage system could have contributed to the flash flood.
Proponents of global warming and climate change have projected that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heavy precipitation events, may increase over most areas, and may not be 'once in 50 years' events.
According to meteorologists, higher temperatures trap moisture in the atmosphere, resulting in more intense rain and a higher likelihood of floods.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fourth Assessment Report noted that 'generally, numbers of heavy daily precipitation events that lead to flooding have increased'.
I would like to inquire whether the recently reorganised Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change intends to study the future effects of climate change on Singapore, if any, and formulate mitigation measures to alleviate any undesirable consequences, such as reviewing the capability of our infrastructure to cope with extreme weather events.
Sin Wei Xiang
