Parliament is an important platform for Members of Parliaments to ask the respective Government Ministries important questions which are of national interest or affects their residents directly. But some MPs do not refrain from asking seemingly frivolous questions in Parliament.
At the last parliamentary sitting MP for Sembawang GRC, Dr Lim Wee Kiak, asked the Ministry for National Development how many complaints HDB has received from residents on foul odours emitted during rubbish chute collections in the past 3-years and how many complaints have been resolved.
The Ministry of National Development responded and said:
“Town Councils (TCs) manage and maintain the common areas in HDB estates, including rubbish chutes. If there is any feedback on foul odours emitted during refuse collection, HDB would generally refer them to TCs for their follow-up. However, HDB has not received such feedback over the past three years.
While it is inevitable that some odour may be emitted during the refuse collection process, TCs take care to minimise dis-amenity to residents. For example, the rubbish bin chutes and central refuse chute are washed on a regular basis, and after each collection. Once the collection at the central refuse chute is completed, the surrounding areas would be cleaned and the roller door shut, to minimize odours being emitted. TCs also remind their conservancy workers to cover the rubbish bins while they are being transported.”
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Source: http://bit.ly/2dTyz75.