SINGAPORE - The Water Master Plan is being reviewed to ensure that Singapore has a reliable and sustainable water supply for generations to come, said the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) which outlined its plans for the next five years.
It will step up measures to tackle haze, such as working with industries and key interest groups to adopt sustainable land clearing practices, and taking tough actions against errant businesses.
The ministry, which has embarked on a review of the role of hawker centres, added that more of the new hawker centres will be integrated with facilities so that they can become community spaces where residents can interact with each other.
The ministry outlined these plans on Thursday (Jan 21) in an Addendum to President Tony Tan Keng Yam's address to Parliament last Friday (Jan 15).
Here's a look at its plans:
Investing for a resilient future
* Reviewing the Water Master Plan to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for generations to come
* Build greater resilience into Singapore's infrastructure and systems within MEWR to cope with the impact of climate change
* Work with other government agencies to build resiliency in Singapore's key national assets
Achieving environmentally sustainable economic growth
* Step up measures to tackle haze, such as working with industries and key interest groups to adopt sustainable land clearing practices, and taking tough actions against errant businesses
* Reduce greenhouse gas emissions as pledged under the climate change agreement reached in Paris last year
* Share more information under the energy labelling scheme and work with community groups to drive greener purchasing decisions
* Government to take the lead in sustainability, and do more through more ambitious energy and water efficiency targets for the public sector
Building better living environment
* Further reduce sources of air pollution by tightening vehicular and industrial emission standards
* Strengthen the regulatory regime to ensure more stringent levels of food hygiene
* Encourage Singaporeans to reuse, reduce, and recycle as Singapore works towards the goal of a Zero Waste Nation
Creating social spaces
* MEWR has embarked on a review to strengthen the role of hawker centres as well as work with the community to promote the local hawker culture and social graciousness.
* More of the new hawker centres will be integrated with facilities so that they can become community spaces where residents can interact with one another
* Expand the ABC Waters Programme to transform more waterways and water bodies into recreational, social and community spaces
