Conduct Independent Environmental Assessments and Release Regular Reports to Public during Construction of Cross Island MRT Line

2 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will conduct independent environmental assessments and release regular reports to the public on the implementation and effectiveness of mitigation measures during the construction of the Cross Island MRT Line within and around the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: LTA will require its appointed contractor, who will construct the Cross Island Line (CRL) in the vicinity of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), to engage an environmental consultant. The consultant's role is to strictly implement the mitigation measures identified in the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan (EMMP). The EMMP is part of the gazetted Environmental Impact Assessment report for the CRL alignment in the vicinity of the CCNR. It was formulated in close consultation with stakeholders, such as nature groups.

LTA will also invite key representatives of nature groups to be part of the implementation process, which includes jointly reviewing these mitigation measures.

In addition, LTA will engage a group of experts to form an Environmental Advisory Panel (EAP). The EAP's role is to review and provide an independent assessment of the environmental consultant's implementation of the EMMP.