There are regulations in place to minimise the health and environmental impact of construction on surrounding residential areas, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan said on Tuesday (Jan 20).
In response to a Parliamentary question from MP Zainal Sapari about safeguards that developers are required to put in place for construction sites near densely-populated residential areas, Mr Khaw emphasised it is the duty of the contractor overseeing the construction site to ensure the work has minimal impact on nearby residents.
He listed several safeguards required of developers to implement, such as conducting pre-construction surveys under the Building Control Regulations to assess the existing conditions of structures in close proximity to the building works.
“During project implementation, the Building Control Act requires contractors to erect protective hoarding around the site boundary to prevent construction debris from posing a hazard to the public and the environment,” he said.
Contractors must also comply with the maximum permissible noise levels regulated by National Environment Agency, he added. The Environmental Public Health Act also requires construction sites of contracts worth more than S$10 million to employ an Environmental Control Officer to anticipate and eliminate environmental health problems, such as mosquito breeding.
If a contractor flouts the rule, the contractor could be fined or prosecuted in court under specific laws, Mr Khaw said.
Source : Channel NewsAsia – 21 Jan 2015