We made a trip to the Environment Resource Centre, Ministry Of Environment. This resource centre is a special information centre whereby we could find out more about the environment issues happening around us. We interviewed the libarian and we had some interesting environment issues to share with you.

Up till 1977, the Singapore River and the Kallang Basin were both badly polluted and were health hazards. It was so smelly that no fish could live in them. Hence, in 1977, a Clean River project was launched to clean up  the rivers. At that time, the river was badly polluted with sewage, domestic refuse, industrial waste as well as animal and farm waste.

In October 1977, plans were put up and action was taken to clean-up the Singapore River and Kallang Basin. The main objective of the effort was to cleanse the rivers connecting to the Kallang Basin and the Singapore River so that aquatic life could return to the rivers. There was massive housing development, resiting of street hawkers to food centres, phasing out of pollutive activities and resettlement of squatters, industrial workshops, backyard trades, industries and farmers.

The Clean River Project Launched in 1977, involved the following Activities

• resettling squatters to flats
• relocating backyard industries to industrial workshop
• relocating food stalls to food centres
• phasing out pigs and ducks farms
• relocating lighters and boat repair yards to lighters wharves

SINGAPORE RIVER AFTER THE CLEAN RIVER RPOJECT