Columbarium catches residents abruptly
Householders of Constructed-To-Order (BTO) flats at Fernvale Lea have been in for a shock when Housing Growth Board (HDB) revealed {that a} columbarium can be constructed close to their housing property.
A columbarium is an area with niches for urns with the lifeless’s ashes to be saved. Evidently, many discovered this inauspicious and felt like they got the brief finish of the stick.
An Australian funeral providers firm, sarcastically named Life Company, received the HDB tender in July. The proposed web site for the columbarium might be built-in with a Chinese language temple on the land subsequent to the upcoming BTO.
Not knowledgeable beforehand
Future residents claimed they weren’t knowledgeable of this resolution earlier. They added that the BTO gross sales booklet solely confirmed that the world was reserved for a Chinese language temple.
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Lack of transparency on HDB’s half
HDB and City Redevelopment Authority (URA) rebutted that future residents had entry to this data, which was specified on the notes of the location plan and city map, stating “locations of worship might embody columbarium as an ancillary use”.
That is proven on HDB’s web site, which seemingly has no point out of the columbarium…
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Till you zoom in on the nice print for about 25 instances:
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Blended reactions from the general public
Some are hoping to strike it wealthy:
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Some suppose that Nationwide Growth Minister, Khaw Boon Wan ought to set an instance (and assist repair ceiling leaks on the identical time!):
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Some suppose {that a} zombie apocalypse is imminent:
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Some blame it on the PAP:
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Some are nervous a couple of doable dip within the resale value of flats:
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Some are extra liberal and accepting:
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However some nonetheless have their reservations about staying close to a columbarium:
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The Petition
Certainly, some future residents nonetheless really feel strongly about staying close to a columbarium and imagine it needs to be erected someplace distant as a substitute of a residential space. These future residents got here up with a petition referred to as ‘Say no to a columbarium next to our future home!’ in hopes to overthrow this unfair resolution. The petition has garnered 603 signatures up to now.
HDB’s actions justified?
In Singapore, the place land is scarce with a projected 6.9million in inhabitants, there may be solely a lot land we are able to exploit.
The least HDB may have achieved was to obviously inform future residents about this plan, not coaxing them into shopping for solely to disclose when the rice is cooked. After this incident, some ought to have learnt it the arduous option to all the time scrutinize the nice print – irrespective of how small.
If HDB overrules the petition, then one can solely look on the brilliant facet of issues. A minimum of there can be no noise air pollution to hang-out you (pun totally meant). And hey… it facilitates multigenerational dwelling – we’re certain our ancestors will not be turning of their graves for being left within the lurch.
Featured picture through HDB
Close to The Straits Times
