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The study and plan were slated to be completed in April, after which key stakeholders, will be engaged to discuss development plans, said JTC. However, during a site inspection, it was found that the contractor had erroneously started clearing some plots of land. Image: Google Street View
A contractor received a stern warning from JTC after it erroneously cleared plots of land in Kranji that had been earmarked for the Agri-Food Innovation Park before the completion of a commissioned study.
Referring to social media posts on the land clearance at Kranji Road and Kranji Close, JTC said the cleared area was earmarked for the Agri-Food Innovation Park’s development, reported Channel News Asia (CNA).
The government has set aside around 18 hectares of land for the first phase of Agri-Food Innovation Park, which is part of the Sungei Kadut Eco-District.
In preparing for the development of the Agri-Food Innovation Park, JTC engaged an environmental specialists in December last year to conduct a biodiversity baseline study and work out an environmental monitoring and management plan for certain plots of land in the area.
The study and plan were slated to be completed in April, after which key stakeholders, including nature groups, will be engaged to discuss development plans, said JTC.
During a site inspection on 13 January, however, JTC found that its contractor had erroneously started clearing some plots of land before the conclusion of the study and plan for such areas.
“Upon this discovery, JTC instructed the contractor to stop all clearing works immediately. Since then, no further clearing has taken place on site and the contractor has been issued a stern warning,” said JTC as quoted by CNA.
Separately, contractor Huationg issued an apology for the erroneous clearing and shared that it has stop all clearing works at the areas in compliance with JTC’s instruction.
“We apologise for the erroneous clearing of land and are working with JTC on ongoing investigations to determine the cause of this lapse, and to prevent future occurrences,” said Huationg as quoted by CNA.
The firm, which is conducting an internal review, is working with JTC to strengthen its project management processes.
Taking a very serious view of the incident, JTC is investigating how the error occurred prior to deciding whether it would take further punitive measures.
“Going forward, JTC will continue with the baseline study and environmental monitoring and management plan and will work closely with all relevant stakeholders, including URA, NParks, nature interest groups and the community, to ensure that the Sungei Kadut Eco-District redevelopment plans are carried out with due consultation and in an environmentally responsible and sensitive manner,” said JTC.
It added that the studies’ findings will be made public once ready.
A part of the Northern Agri-Tech and Food Corridor, the Sungei Kadut Eco-District is one of the nodes which will linked via the 24km Rail Corridor.
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