Chua Chu Kang Town Council eradicates rodents with 'Rat Attack' programme

SINGAPORE - Instead of waiting for the problem to escalate, Chua Chu Kang Town Council (CCKTC) stepped up and prevented rodent complaints from escalating by initiating a rodent-eradication programme called the 'Rat Attack' programme with the National Environment Agency (NEA) back in November last year.

CCKTC said in a statement on Thursday that it had already observed a rising trend of rodent complaints and realised a "more concerted effort was needed".

They are also the first town council to collaborate with NEA to ensure that the rat population within its constituency was controlled, prior to escalations in other parts of Singapore.

The programme was organised by a full-time team that had worked towards reducing the rat population by seeking out and treating rat burrows as well as removing both live and dead rats.

Within the first two months of the programme, CCKTC managed to uncover and treat a total of 904 active rat burrows within its entire constituency. The number of rat burrows then dropped from 500 in January to an average of about 60 found per month.

Now in its maintenance stage, the programme is still ongoing although with lesser elimination efforts made due to the decrease in signs of rodent activities.

CCKTC also reminded its constituency residents to keep their estates clean and also distributed handouts informing them of the 'Rat Attack' programme back in February. Residents are also encourage to inform the town council of any rat sightings.

The entire 'Rat Attack' programme will last for two years.

ssandrea@sph.com.sg