2 years ago, there was a construction project going on just a few metres away from my backyard. For two and a half years, my family and neighbours had to endure the constant noise and air pollution. Our houses were always dusty from all that construction.
The workers worked from early morning until late at night and even on public holidays. We couldn't rest after returning from work. Our children had to stay away from our homes until nightfall as they couldn't concentrate on their studies with all that noise.We sent many complaint letters to the authorities and they just gave 'cut and paste' replies.
Finally, fed-up of all the ding-doinging and the construction workers who started retaliating by creating more noise, I gathered all the affected residents together and demanded that the relevant authorities (NEA. URA, BCA) and representatives of the construction project come for a dialogue session.
I wrote to Members of Parliament, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, REACH forum and even our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. That got NEA scrambling to get its act together. The night before the dialogue session, as I was going around to remind each household in my estate to come for the meeting the next day, I saw the Chief Engineer of NEA and his assistant going round the estate too.
At the dialogue session, affected residents were finally able to voice their frustrations to the relevant authorities. We finally got NEA to agree to monitor the construction project and to ensure they did not cause more inconvenience to the residents. We also got the construction company to patch up cracks due to the ongoing construction and also do some painting.
The affected residents of St Patrick's estate did it without our MPs despite having two of them serving us. They were nowhere to be found when we were grappling with these problems. We solved our own problems.
I hope there can be more of such useful dialogue sessions between residents and the relevant authorities on problems in the community. Residents should unite themselves to solve problems more efficiently and productively.
PhotoHunt
photohuntFirst Commenter -
Good Job!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWarm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Wow, fight for you right! Cool and determined! I like it!
ReplyDeleteI believe that your neighbours are touched by your commitment to help the residents share their voice on how the construction has to be monitored. You have a gift in advocacy, and you're using it for good cause. :)
ReplyDeleteAhjie, if only our society can have leaders like you ^-^
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you
Great job of uniting the neighbors. If you stick together you can be strong. Hope it has calmed down for you.
ReplyDeleteYou are really like a leader to all of them huh! ;D
ReplyDeleteWe really should have more people like you in Malaysia. :D
ReplyDeleteInteresting posting. I always learn something from your blog.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on.
You are such a good citizen heeheh. Nice work. Happy weekend. Mine is up.
ReplyDelete*standing ovation*
ReplyDelete*hands and feet*
Good on you for taking things into your own hands for the community! How long did it all take to get the sought after result?
ReplyDeletei applaud your efforts in bringing attention to all the parties concerned.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter weekend!
ReplyDeleteBRAVO!!
ReplyDeletePOWER TO THE PEOPLE!!
Great story. Very uplifting to read about how you as a community could act together like that.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy your blog and the way you stand up for your rights. I hope when the dust settled everyone was happy with the results.
ReplyDeleteYTSL,
ReplyDeleteAfter the dialogue session, they responded quite fast. They have to as they are facing a united group. :P
In Singapore, everywhere you turn, there's constructions! can't escape them. Right now we're having Lift upgrading programme, the noise is not much but what I can't stand is the dust! And I'm allergic to dust but I have to do the clean up while achoooing away...
ReplyDeleteGood on you ECL.
ReplyDeleteExcellent way to stick up for your family and neighbours rights! Good job ECL :)
ReplyDeleteWe should have ECL with us to fight all our battles.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know people cared enough to work together instead of relying on a handful of people to solve their problems.
ReplyDeleteHello There ! I love your blog! Especially the photo with your head in a red bag. That's Classic. You must have a lot of guts and good character.
ReplyDeleteI like the part about being " fearless" too.
I'm writing a blog about my fearless adventure in London too.
Thank you for your blog!
love, Sabrina