Contractor behind last December’s Upper Thomson floods fined S$14,000

SINGAPORE — Contractor Sato Kogyo has been fined S$14,000 for unauthorised works that contributed to flash floods along Thomson Road on Christmas Eve last year.

The Japanese firm is one of 14 contractors and two qualified persons penalised this year for drainage offences and failing to supervise drainage work, national water agency PUB said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 7).

Sato Kogyo, which established its regional headquarters in Singapore in 2002, was fined S$8,000 for altering the public draining system without PUB’s approval across Upper Thomson Road, close to the construction site of the upcoming Upper Thomson MRT station. It was fined S$6,000 for building an “undersized” temporary diversion drain along Jalan Keli, opposite Thomson Plaza, without notifying the PUB.

These works contributed to floods in the area on Christmas Eve last year after a heavy downpour, with some businesses reportedly suffering damage worth thousands of dollars.

Five other firms, including Choon Hoe Construction, Boon Tian Contractor, Tiong Seng Contractors, Hup Seng Lee and Woh Hup, were fined S$3,000 each for altering or discontinuing drainage systems without approval. Seven firms were fined between S$2,000 and S$4,000 for unauthorised obstruction of drainage systems. These include Shimizu Corporation, Ssangyong-Hyundai, Tiong Seng-Dongah, KH Foges, Chye Joo Construction, Lum Chang Building Contractors and Evan Lim & Co.

CHT Chartered Architects’ Chua Hee Tong, the QP in charge of Hup Seng Lee’s project at 60 and 62 Nemesu Avenue, was fined S$1,000 for failing to locate the common drain and submitting plans for PUB’s approval before work started.

One other firm, KJS Construction, was also fined S$1,500 for failing to removing a support structure after completing a construction project, hence obstructing drain flow.

TP Seow Consultants’ Seow Teck Pang, who was in charge of this project at a SingHealth Polyclinic, was fined S$1,000 for failing to check the drain’s conditions before certifying that works were completed properly.

These offences were uncovered during regular inspections of construction sites and investigations arising from public feedback.

Under the Sewerage and Drainage Act, firms could be fined up to S$50,000 if found guilty of conducting unauthorised works affecting the public drainage system. They could also be fined up to S$20,000 if found guilty of unauthorised alteration or interference to public drainage systems.

Mr Ridzuan Ismail, PUB’s Director of Catchment and Waterways, urged contractors to “exercise due diligence” in light of the large number of construction projects near the public drainage system.

“It is important that contractors exercise due diligence to ensure that their works do not affect the functioning of the public drainage system. Drains must be kept free-flowing so that they can convey stormwater away quickly during heavy rain to reduce flood risks,” he said.