If you’ve ever been to that long, wide stretch of road in the West side, you’ll know how different it is compared to the rest of Singapore. Eerie and undeveloped are common descriptions of Lim Chu Kang Road, but, fun fact — it’s used as an emergency runway for The Republic of Singapore Air Force.
It’s also home to the biggest remaining cemetery — Choa Chu Kang Cemetery — left on the island, and part of that is going to make way for the expansion of Tengah Air Base, along with surrounding land currently occupied by fish farms and a nursery on Murai Farmway.
The Ministry of National Development (MND), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said in a joint statement yesterday that the government is planning to exhume over 80,000 graves and acquire the surrounding land, which measures approximately 106 hectares (equivalent to 75 football fields). The expansion of Tengah Air Base is meant to house some of the assets and facilities from Paya Lebar Air Base, which is set to be vacated and relocated by 2030.
The land currently occupied by Paya Lebar Air Base, measuring about 800 hectares, will be redeveloped into urban areas used to build homes, offices, factories and parks. Development works are expected to start in 2019, when two ornamental fish farms, a food fish farm and a nursery on Murai farmway are expected to move out.
In addition, 45,500 Chinese graves and 30,000 Muslim graves (which take up about 100 hectares of land) will be exhumed. Notice of exhumation for the remaining graves will be issued once they have met the minimum 15-year burial period.
A portion of heritage roads along Lim Chu Kang Road, which feature lush greenery with tall mature green walls of vegetation, will also be affected, and the road will therefore need to be re-aligned, the authorities said.
Businesses have expressed their surprise and concern at the move, especially considering the short notice. Manager of family-owned Koon Lee Nursery, Mac Teo, said he will not just be losing the site of his business for 30 years — he’ll lose his home, too.
“The uncertainty is what is worrying. There is not a lot of information available. Even if we bid for the land, we may not get it,” he said.
The government has considered “all alternatives, taking into account national defence and security needs as well as the overall benefits”, the authorities stated.
“Government agencies have, as far as possible, tried to minimise the impact of these works, and affected stakeholders will be given advance notice to make alternative arrangements,” they added. Teo said he feels reassured by SLA officers telling him that they will be flexible with the deadline for moving out. Nonetheless, he has started making plans to minimize disruption when he eventually has to vacate the premises.
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