SLA manages both State properties and State land.

(a) State properties
In the current campaign against Dengue, SLA carried out carpet combing exercises on vacant State properties located island wide. We have recently completed the audit checks on all 700 vacant State properties that we manage.
During the carpet combing exercises, we found that three common problems that could lead to potential mosquito breeding areas on vacant State properties were discarded water receptacles, rooftops and choked drains. We had immediately removed discarded water receptacles and unclogged drains which were choked with fallen leaves. Drains in disrepair were also mended where necessary.
In our inspections of rooftops, we have found and cleared about 100 potential breeding sites mainly associated to roof gutters. Since two weeks ago, wherever possible and practical to do so, SLA has begun removing existing roof-gutters from vacant State properties. Roof-gutters can form potential mosquito breeding areas and are hard to maintain. We have identified approximately 90 vacant properties where the roof gutters will be removed. We aim to complete this project by end of October.
To ensure the prevention of further mosquito breeding, SLA has stepped up its maintenance activities at vacant State properties.
We have increased housekeeping and audit inspection of properties from once per month to once per fortnight. Housekeeping activities include removal of accumulated fallen leaves, unclogging of choked drains and removal of discarded water receptacles. These stepped up activities will be permanent fixtures in our maintenance schedule. Please refer to Table A for SLA's maintenance schedule.

(b) Vacant State Land near residential areas
State Land near public housing and private residential estates are generally turfed, and are therefore well-maintained. Most of the State land located within and near public housing estates are maintained by HDB, managing agent for SLA.
Throughout recent weeks, SLA has been joining NEA's weekly carpet combing exercises by carrying out similar inspections on vacant State land in hot spot areas near housing estates. SLA has also been inspecting other vacant State land near dengue-active clusters identified by NEA. We are targeting to complete the inspection of State land by early November.
In our carpet combing exercises on State land, we have found and destroyed around 200 potential mosquito breeding sites. Common potential breeding sites on vacant State land are usually found in potholes and discarded water receptacles. We have removed these water receptacles. Also, where potholes are found, we have them backfilled.
In situations where there are adult mosquitoes, fogging is carried out. However, our emphasis is on the elimination of all potential mosquito-breeding grounds, which will deny mosquitoes a place to breed.
Similar to the efforts carried out for State properties, SLA ensures that regular housekeeping, grass-cutting and inspection activities are carried out on State land. We have also stepped up maintenance activities, such as oiling and inspections, from once per month to once per fortnight. At the same time, our managing agents ensure that unwanted sump pits for drains within turfed land are replaced with C7 drains to prevent water stagnation. (Sump pits are the lowest parts of a drainage system where liquids or wastes remain. C7 drain is a V-shaped drain.) Please refer to Table B for SLA's maintenance schedule for vacant State land near residential areas.
However, to ensure that maintenance of State land is kept up, we would also need the cooperation of the public to not indiscriminately discard unwanted materials such as food containers, drink cans and other forms of water-bearing receptacles on vacant land which can lead to the breeding of mosquitoes.

Issued by:
Singapore Land Authority
20 October 2005