“GRANDFATHER OF ALL RATS”
Most residents CNA spoke to said areas where the rats appeared were clean and that estate cleaners were doing a good job.
Ms Angela Sabapathy said she used to see rats under block 273 and near the rubbish chute, when renovation works were ongoing at the ground floor from late last year to a few months ago.
“That area was a problem. And they’re gutter rats so they’re quite big,” the 66-year-old retiree said.
“The one I saw was the grandfather of all rats … It was scary.”
Apart from the size of the rats, their boldness – appearing in daylight and near humans – was also a concern, Ms Angela said.
“We are not a slum … But the fact that you see a rat running around, scurrying, and not at all afraid of you – they are too familiar already.”
Mr Tan suggested that the pest problem might be exacerbated as more people start to dump their trash directly into chutes instead of bagging them up, in a bid to avoid using plastic bags.
Large supermarket operators began imposing a plastic bag charge earlier this month.
“In the future more and more people will just throw it through here … the rats and cockroaches are happy that the food is there. I think this is another issue coming up,” he said.
The town council spokesperson said rodent control measures in the area have been enhanced under a Rat Attack Programme.
“This includes area-specific burrow treatment plan, implementing comprehensive bait and trap measures, building modifications to prevent further habitat from forming, intensified night culling methods and other long term control measures,” the spokesperson said.
He added that Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council has also been working with the Resident’s Network community to educate and spread awareness to residents to continue to maintain an environment that does not actively sustain rodents with food and habitat resources.
“We will continue to intensify the rodent control measures until the rodent population and burrows are eradicated.”