What’s the rationale for rules on picking and plucking fruits on state land?

In a written reply to a question filed by Member of Parliament Darryl David, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said this week that trees, including their fruit, which are located on state land belong to the state.

Mr Wong added that those who wish to pluck fruit from trees or collect fruit that has dropped from trees on state land should approach the National Parks Board (NParks) for permission, or risk being fined up to S$5,000. Some TODAY readers questioned the rationale for such a policy, noting that it is a waste to let fruits that have dropped be cleared away by cleaners or eaten by birds.  

My suggestion is to transform a piece of government land on which to plant the various types of fruit trees that NParks planted around the island. This can be known as SG Orchard, where locals and tourists are welcome, just like the National Orchid Garden at the Botanic Gardens. In a way, it could be a learning hub for children from kindergarten onwards. The fruits harvested could be distributed to homes and low-income groups. To beautify the estates and along roads, plant fruitless trees that are hardy and easy to maintain. In this way, plucking or stealing of fruits would be avoided. LINDA CHOW

So often I see birds in the day and bats at night eating those chiku fruits on the trees. What a waste! MARY LEE

What is the point of growing fruits when it takes trouble to get approval to harvest them? LOTUS HAI NOI PHUA

I think the rule is really okay, it is not to bar good citizens, but those who take the fruits and sell in bulk, such as rambutans from Yishun Park…Just write an email to ask for permission, if it is reasonable, you’ll get a green light. We like the fish in Bishan Park, we wrote to NParks and got an approval. We can catch the fish and take them home, but we cannot sell them. So far so good. SPRING HARUKO HSIEH

Spring Haruko Hsieh, okay, for fishes they will be still swimming while you are waiting for permission. But for fruits, they will fall and rot on the ground before the green light comes. How long does it take NParks to reply to you? MARY RAKANG

I think by the time you send an email and get a response, cleaners would have cleared the fruits. It is okay to fine those who pluck the fruits, but fining those who pick them up from the ground is going overboard. Anyway, I don't think NPark officers will purposely go and pick up the fruits and keep them. So at the end of the day, the road sweeper and cleaners will clear the fruits into rubbish bins. So why waste the fruits which can be consumed instead? JESSE JEFFER CHIN

Is the approval instant? Because with any delay, the fruits will rot and create waste. SING KAI KOH

By the time permission is given, the fruits will be rotten. YE SHUN FU

I wonder what is the purpose of planting those trees if we can’t even touch them? ZARINA SELAMAT

So what’s going to happen after the NPark staff collect the fruits? They should be donated to old folks’ homes. SCHIFFON WINNIE CHAN 

Does the rule apply to Pulau Ubin? FRANKIE CHEW

The fruits will drop to the ground and get rotten. They would rather let these go to waste than let some needy people have them? SENTHIL NATHAN

Then shouldn’t NParks be responsible for ensuring the ripe fruits are removed? Otherwise, the birds will get the first bite anyway. TSAI TECK SEE

I wonder what NParks do with those fruits? WILLIAM ONG WL

NParks staff should pluck the fruits and distribute them. Better than have them ripen, fall, rot and attract flies. SMITHA THURTHI

What if the fruit drops into my plastic bag? CHUA KIM LEONG

I can close one eye if someone plucks just a few for his own family's consumption but some greedy ones pluck the tree bare. 威廉 

These comments were first posted to TODAY’s Facebook page. They have been edited for clarity, accuracy and length.