THE tragic death of the young man who fell into the Singapore River after a drinking binge, as well as the recent floods, highlights the problem of littering along our waterways.
Far too many groups of people gather along the banks of the Singapore River, especially on Friday and Saturday nights, and consume vast quantities of alcohol and food.
Even comparatively quieter areas of the riverside, such as the stretch between Saiboo Street and Kim Seng Road, resemble 'war zones' on Saturday and Sunday mornings with drink bottles, cans, food scraps and plastic bags fouling the banks, bridges and river.
Obviously, the security staff of the condominiums and hotels that line the river do not have the authority to ask these revellers to move on or clean up after themselves.
Rampant littering will undoubtedly cause drainage problems, especially when heavy rain coincides with high tide.
If vandalism attracts an automatic punishment of caning, surely littering calls for severe penalties.
Not only are we rapidly losing the distinction of being among the cleanest cities in the world, but we are also exposing ourselves to flood risks which severely impact the economy.
Jairam Amrith
falling into river littering?
can't say for the foreigners but the locals who litter reek of horrible family upbringing