"The award belongs to everyone," Vk Parandhaman, the environmental officer of the T235 project of the Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link), said at the ECO (SCS) Awards Ceremony 2023 held by the National Environment Agency of Singapore.
Vk Parandhaman, the environmental officer of the T235 project of the Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System Link (RTS Link), shows the certificate of excellence at the ECO (SCS) Awards Ceremony 2023 held by the National Environment Agency of Singapore. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
A bird's-eye view of the T235 section stretching through the virgin forest in Singapore [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The RTS Link T235 project, the first overseas project contracted by China Communications Construction Company Ltd. (CCCC) in Singapore, includes construction of the elevated track and the tunnel sections of the cross-region railway.
The sections stretch across the Woodlands virgin forest where has extremely strict environmental protection requirements. That's where Parandhaman's work fits in.
Parandhaman explained that about 600 meters of the section runs through the forest where various kinds of wild animals and plants live. Their behavior and life habits are totally strange to the workers, making construction of the project while protecting the wildlife quite difficult.
Before engineering started, Parandhaman made a plan to clear plants only within the selected area and maintain the original condition of other parts of the forest. Protective fencing was also built to prevent wild animals straying into the construction site.
However, there were still small-sized animals like hares, monkeys, wild pigs and pangolins visiting the site. Parandhaman therefore invited experts from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Singapore to guide workers how to deal with the wildlife.
Later, a green passage for migration of the animals was built, which protected them while guaranteeing engineering progress of the project.
In addition to wild animals, wild plants are also key targets that need protection in the forest.
In October 2022, workers of the project found a virgin wood with ancient trees and various other kind of plants. International experts in trees were invited to identify the ancient trees and offered detailed transplant technology instructions.
Parandhaman also organized popularization activities and launched drawing and speech contests focusing on environmental protection to raise workers' awareness of it.
The endeavors brought the T235 project many environmental protection awards in Singapore.
The certificate of excellence that Vk Parandhaman, the environmental officer of the T235 project of the Singapore–Johor Bahru Rapid Transit System (RTS Link), is awarded at the ECO (SCS) Awards Ceremony 2023 [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
