-DENNIS TAN- When I first saw the photos of the cleared Kranj | The Workers’ Party
-DENNIS TAN-
When I first saw the photos of the cleared Kranji Woodlands, I decided to file Parliamentary Questions (PQs) asking about the EIA and EBS conducted for the area. I filed the following PQs last night which were accepted by the Parliament earlier this evening:
1. To ask the Minister for National Development if EIA or EBS are currently done for all industrial developments
2. To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry, with regards to the upcoming Sungei Kadut Ecodistrict, (a) did JTC perform any EBS or EIA for the development, (b) if so, can the studies be made public, and (c) if MTI will consider mandating all future industrial park developments to have EIA or EBS conducted with public consultations with various stakeholders
I was shocked to read the news reports on this after the Budget speech today (see below link). While we do not yet know the full picture of the incident, this episode reinforces the need for greater protection for our forests. Changes were made to our existing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework just last year. MND assured that it still has "regulatory teeth".
However, lapses do occur and we need the necessary legal framework that can ensure that responsible parties are taken to task fairly and receive suitable punishment for any infringements. After all, any unnecessary clearance (if at all) of our precious limited forested areas may not be reversible. Is a stern warning sufficient "teeth" to undo anything or prevent further destruction?
Under current guidelines then, who is held accountable for such breaches? Is it the fault of the contractor alone or is the agency overseeing such developments, in this case JTC, also responsible? I await details from the relevant agencies.
Lastly, I believe that this mistake would not have come to light without the efforts of active citizenry and/or civil society as I have mentioned in my Climate Change Motion speech, the pivotal role that civil society stakeholders (including academics and NGOs) have played and will continue to play in guiding our response to climate change cannot be understated. If environmental groups were not consulted before this happened, I am glad that at least this is now being flagged as an issue.
Relevant links:
https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/nparks-investigating-after-swathes-of-kranji-woodland-along-rail-corridor-were-cleared-by?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
https://mothership.sg/2021/02/kranji-forest-cleared-wrongly/
https://www.facebook.com/149151181960439/posts/1619550374920505/
