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  Channel NewsAsia 20 Jan 05
Police Intelligence Department 'adopts' MacRitchie Reservoir
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : Officers from the Police Intelligence Department wanted to help keep the MacRitchie Reservoir area clean, so they decided to adopt it for a period of two years. The project also marks the department's 10th anniversary this year.

Armed with gloves, tongs and black garbage bags, 100 officers managed to pick up a quite a few bag-loads of rubbish. These officers are known for gathering intelligence for police operations. But in this project, they are performing their duties in another way. They are helping to clean the reservoir as part of their community service.

The Police Intelligence Department is the first to adopt MacRitchie Reservoir to help protect its water and environment. These officers take part in a run at MacRitchie Reservoir once every two months, so they can help monitor any water pollution and report it to the PUB.

Said Ng Joo Hee, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police and Director of the Police Intelligence Department, "We've been coming to run here in MacRitchie for almost a year now. This is a beautiful place to run and also just for a stroll and because PUB has this adopt a reservoir programme, which fits right into our runs, I thought it's meaningful for us to adopt a piece of MacRitchie and keep it clean and green."

Said one of the officers, "Besides keeping fit and healthy, I also can do a part for the community."

Another said, "The idea is refreshing because I don't think we've done something in our department like that. Look at the surroundings; it's so green and so nice. We hardly get a chance to come out this way, so it's great being here."

Singapore has some 14 reservoirs and 30 rivers and canals. So far, 20 groups have volunteered to help care for some of these waterways. - CNA /ct
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