THE tragic death of the young man who fell into the Singapore
River after a drinking binge, as well as the recent floods,
highlights the problem of littering along our waterways.
Far too many groups of people gather along the banks of the
Singapore River, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, and
consume vast quantities of alcohol and food.
Even comparatively quieter areas of the riverside, such as the
stretch between Saiboo Street and Kim Seng Road, resemble 'war
zones' on Saturday and Sunday mornings with drink bottles, cans,
food scraps and plastic bags fouling the banks, bridges and
river.
Obviously, the security staff of the condominiums and hotels
that line the river do not have the authority to ask these
revellers to move on or clean up after themselves.
Rampant littering will undoubtedly cause drainage problems,
especially when heavy rain coincides with high tide.
If vandalism attracts an automatic punishment of caning, surely
littering calls for severe penalties.
Not only are we rapidly losing the distinction of being among
the cleanest cities in the world, but we are also exposing
ourselves to flood risks which severely impact the economy.
Jairam Amrith