Cutting the red tape in cutting grass

SINGAPORE - The cutting of grass in public spaces may soon be scheduled in a more coordinated way, to minimise inconvenience to the public.

This marks the latest push by the new Municipal Services Office (MSO) to streamline city services and better serve residents.

Consolidating grass-cutting services will do away with the need for "different sets of workers coming in and inconveniencing the public", said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Grace Fu, who heads the MSO.

More details on the possible change will be given at a later date, she told reporters yesterday after visiting the Pang Sua Park Connector in Yew Tee.

Currently, each government agency hires its own contractor to cut the grass on the type of state land under its care.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA), for example, manages the grass on vacant state land, while the National Parks Board (NParks) handles the grass along park connectors, and national water agency PUB takes care of the grass on the paths beside canals.

This means that grass on different types of land is cut at different times of the month, and with varying frequencies. This can lead to uneven patches of greenery.

Some members of the public have given feedback about these dissimilar schedules, Ms Fu said.

NParks is now in talks to take over from SLA in cutting the grass on a stretch of vacant state land at the Pang Sua Park Connector.

Such coordination is already under way in places such as Bishan- Ang Mo Kio Park and the Ulu Pandan and Pelton Canal park connectors, said NParks.

This article was first published on December 10, 2014.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.