More monitoring instruments installed at Watten estate during Downtown Line construction

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has explained how the Downtown Line construction work affected property in Watten estate along Bukit Timah Road.

Responding to Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam, the Transport Minister said the incident was due to an unexpected and rapid draw down of groundwater during excavation works for Downtown Line Two.

When alerted to the incident, Mr Lui said the Land Transport Authority installed more recharge wells to pump in water and stabilise ground settlement.

Mr Lui said it also installed additional instruments to monitor groundwater levels:

"Since the early days of the incident, there have been no further reports of property damage. LTA has taken prompt action to make temporary repairs to the property damages for the residents while investigations to ascertain the actual cause of the ground settlement continued. When tunneling work for DTL 2 is completed around the end of 2013, LTA will make good the damage to properties caused by the construction. Let me assure the House that LTA places paramount importance on safety and we'll take all appropriate precautions in the construction in our road and rail projects."