See words in bold. Explains alot on the increasing
tarriffs and lack of buffer towards ever increasing petrol price.
Petrol price just increases again yesterday woh.
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S'pore sets up two new institutes to boost
water research and liveable cities
By S.Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 24 June 2008 1615 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore is boosting its capabilities in water
management and sustainable urban development. It will be setting up
two expert bodies - the Institute of Water Policy, under the Lee
Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and the Centre for Liveable
Cities.
Opening the World Cities Summit and the International Water Week,
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said every city's goal of a good
living environment and efficient use of resources cannot be
achieved in isolation.
There is no doubt countries place high importance on issues like
water management, energy efficiency, air quality and urban
planning. That's evident from the overwhelming response from
delegates to the World Cities Summit and the International Water
Week.
PM Lee noted that urbanisation is happening at an unprecedented
scale. So to ensure cities remain dynamic engines of growth, sound
urban management policies are needed. And topping that list is
energy conservation.
Mr Lee said: "To achieve results in energy efficiency and
conservation, it is important to get the economics right. Energy,
whether electricity or petrol, should be priced properly and not
subsidised."
At the same time, Mr Lee noted that R&D on clean energy
technologies, including safe nuclear power, needs to be an
important component of mankind's response to global warming.
Another critical element of sustainable living is water management.
The Prime Minister feels that, on the whole, the world is not short
of water but what is lacking are sound water management
practices.
He said: "It is not enough to build the best water treatment
plants, and then neglect to protect the water catchments from
squatters or pollution. Ensuring a clean and reliable supply of
potable water requires cities to take an integrated approach - from
the reservoirs, catchment areas and water treatment plants, to the
reticulation, sanitation and sewerage system. "
In Singapore's case, the National Research Foundation has a S$500
million programme to finance research in environmental and water
technologies.
Dr Tony Tan, Chairman, National Research Foundation, said: "These
investments have yielded dramatic reductions in the cost of water
from recycling of used water and desalination through the use of
advanced membrane technology."
As some of Singapore's solutions may be relevant to other emerging
cities, the country's two new institutes on water policy and urban
planning can play a role in collaborative research projects and
information sharing. - CNA/vm
Oh my goodness! i thought Mah BT was a joker when he obfuscated
reducing petrol tax as giving subsidize now we have our
extraordinary PM repeating the risible spin. Is this the result of
brain damaged by too much money?
