Increase in Legal Requisition Fee for Drainage Interpretation Plans

Debated in Parliament on 8 Sep 2014.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the 95% fee increase for drainage interpretation plans from $18 to $35, noting that no plans are supplied unless specific drainage works affect the property, and asked for a cost breakdown.
Vivian Balakrishnan explained that the fee covers NEA’s verification of drainage plans and maintenance of an accurate nationwide database, which has not been updated in over 10 years and now aims for full cost recovery.
The fee ensures lawyers and property buyers can assess drainage reserve impacts, with NEA providing plans only when reserves affect the property or issuing a clearance statement otherwise.
The revision in September 2014 aligns the fee with the actual resources needed to process requisitions and maintain the drainage database, which has increased due to inflation and operational costs.
Both the question and response highlight the fee’s purpose in supporting property transactions while ensuring government costs for drainage management are adequately covered.

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Full Transcript

Lim Biow Chuan

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the basis for increasing the legal requisition fee for drainage interpretation plans by 95% from $18 to $35 considering that no plans are actually supplied by NEA unless there are specific drainage works affecting the property concerned; and (b) what is the breakdown of the costs involved for providing replies for the legal requisitions.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the 95% fee increase for drainage interpretation plans from $18 to $35, noting that no plans are supplied unless specific drainage works affect the property, and asked for a cost breakdown.
Vivian Balakrishnan explained that the fee covers NEA’s verification of drainage plans and maintenance of an accurate nationwide database, which has not been updated in over 10 years and now aims for full cost recovery.
The fee ensures lawyers and property buyers can assess drainage reserve impacts, with NEA providing plans only when reserves affect the property or issuing a clearance statement otherwise.
The revision in September 2014 aligns the fee with the actual resources needed to process requisitions and maintain the drainage database, which has increased due to inflation and operational costs.
Both the question and response highlight the fee’s purpose in supporting property transactions while ensuring government costs for drainage management are adequately covered.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Increase in Legal Requisition Fee for Drainage Interpretation Plans

Debated in Parliament on 8 Sep 2014.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the 95% fee increase for drainage interpretation plans from $18 to $35, noting that no plans are supplied unless specific drainage works affect the property, and asked for a cost breakdown.
Vivian Balakrishnan explained that the fee covers NEA’s verification of drainage plans and maintenance of an accurate nationwide database, which has not been updated in over 10 years and now aims for full cost recovery.
The fee ensures lawyers and property buyers can assess drainage reserve impacts, with NEA providing plans only when reserves affect the property or issuing a clearance statement otherwise.
The revision in September 2014 aligns the fee with the actual resources needed to process requisitions and maintain the drainage database, which has increased due to inflation and operational costs.
Both the question and response highlight the fee’s purpose in supporting property transactions while ensuring government costs for drainage management are adequately covered.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Lim Biow Chuan

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the 95% fee increase for drainage interpretation plans from $18 to $35, noting that no plans are supplied unless specific drainage works affect the property, and asked for a cost breakdown.
Vivian Balakrishnan explained that the fee covers NEA’s verification of drainage plans and maintenance of an accurate nationwide database, which has not been updated in over 10 years and now aims for full cost recovery.
The fee ensures lawyers and property buyers can assess drainage reserve impacts, with NEA providing plans only when reserves affect the property or issuing a clearance statement otherwise.
The revision in September 2014 aligns the fee with the actual resources needed to process requisitions and maintain the drainage database, which has increased due to inflation and operational costs.
Both the question and response highlight the fee’s purpose in supporting property transactions while ensuring government costs for drainage management are adequately covered.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Vivian Balakrishnan

A legal requisition for drainage interpretation plans is usually made by lawyers acting for clients who are buying a property. Its purpose is to check whether a property is affected by drainage reserves safeguarded by the Government for public purposes. As there are potentially major financial implications for the client, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will need to verify the relevant drainage plans based on comprehensive authoritative records. If the property is affected by drainage reserves, NEA will provide a copy of the relevant drainage plan. If the property is not affected by any

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drainage reserves, NEA will issue a categorical statement to that effect.

To provide this service, NEA needs to maintain an updated database with accurate and comprehensive drainage information for the whole of Singapore. The fee charged is based on the resources required to process the requisitions and maintain the database. This fee has not been increased for more than 10 years and has not kept pace with the costs of providing the service. The revision in September 2014 will bring the fee closer to full cost recovery.

Increase in Legal Requisition Fee for Drainage Interpretation Plans

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Lim Biow Chuan

Summary

Questions Identified

Increase in Legal Requisition Fee for Drainage Interpretation Plans

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Lim Biow Chuan

Summary

Questions Identified

Vivian Balakrishnan