SINGAPORE: An serious gardener, Mr Lim has planted some plants near his home at Block 126 Aljunied Road over the last century.
The 66- yr- ancient resident has lived in the area for about 30 times. Residents may produce ginkgo trees and additional edible plants and herbs for their use along with him and a group of other long-time neighbors.
But to their chagrin, most of the plants have been chopped over. Workers hired by Marine Parade Town Council, which is over the estate, last Wednesday ( Jun 26 ), removed trees that it claimed were “unauthorised plantings.”
” This is an ancient house, but there’s lots of space. In some lands like ours, all grows their own crops downstairs”, said Mr Lim, who did not like his full title published, in Mandarin.
” This is a unique feature of our village. I’m not sure why they do n’t want to keep it and make it something we can proud of.
But the city government said other residents had issues. Some of the plants and trees had opened empties that were blocked and unkempt, which affected cleaning procedures and led to mosquito breeding, according to the report.
Residents ‘ complaints about the inadequate maintenance of these unapproved plantings were also addressed by the community council.  ,
It added that some of the trees were getting curved and that overgrown trees were harming a fence.
The city council carried out the removal of these seedlings in the area because there was no action taken despite numerous recommendations.
People who spoke with CNA spoke to Mr. Lim, who regularly appears in the morning and evening to clean the area and tend to the plants.  ,
Mr. Lim clears the leaves in the dump more frequently than the house workers, according to Mr. Tan Chong Kiat, who objected to the city council’s claims that the drains were blocked.  ,
” Every moment he’s there. And he’s doing it for free. He’s never asking for money, he’s doing this out of his personal passion”, said the 61- season- old native, who started gardening with Mr Lim during the COVID- 19 pandemic.  ,