Date Published: 13 May 2002 Name and Constituency of MP: Assoc Prof Chin Tet Yung, MP for Sembawang GRC Question: To ask the Minister for the Environment: (a) What measures are in place to warn the public about the opening of tidal gates at the Kranji river and reservoir; and (b) Whether there are any other areas in Singapore where there are similar situations. Answer: ( a) What measures are in place to warn the public about the opening of tidal gates at the Kranji river and reservoir? PUB has in place the following safety operating procedures at Kranji to warn the public on the opening of the tidal gates: (i) A siren is sounded for two minutes to warn the public on the opening of the tidal gates. (ii) A visual check is done to ensure that the channel outside the gates is clear of human activities before operating the gates. (iii) Both sides of the channel are guarded by high fencing, running for about 80 m downstream. (iv) Signboards are placed in the park area to warn the public of the potential danger of rapid water flows in the channel in the event that the tidal gates are lifted. (b) Whether there are any other areas in Singapore where there are similar situations. PUB has tidal gates at four other locations. These are: Lower Seletar Reservoir, Poyan Reservoir, Pandan Canal and Jurong Lake. Safety operating procedures similar to those in Kranji are also observed in these four locations. (c) Members may wonder how effective these safety measures have been. These procedures have been in place for 27 years. There has not been any accident or mishap being linked to the operations of tidal gates. As for the recent incident on 14 Apr 02, I am aware that there has been some speculation as reported in our local media that the incident might have been caused by the operations of tidal gates. So far, PUB has not found any technical evidence suggesting that this may be the case. The incident is now under police investigation. While awaiting the outcome of the police investigation, the PUB has introduced two extra safety measures to address public concern. These are: (i) Converting the signboards in the Park area into four languages, and (ii) PUB staff using a loudhailer to warn the public to stay clear of the water channel before opening the tidal gate. This is a temporary measure. We will review the need to continue with this measure as well as the need to introduce further measures pending the outcome of police investigation..