Man alarmed by 'so many' rats in alley next to Geylang frog porridge place: 'They were quite big'
Rats were spotted in the alley next to the Geylang Lorong 9 Fresh Frog Porridge restaurant in the early hours of March 8.
Stomper Lee shared a video of several rodents scurrying on the road, under a table and waste bin.
He said he was making his way home at the time.
"I cut through the alley next to the frog porridge restaurant at Lorong 9 Geylang;and was confronted by lots of rats," recounted the Stomper.
"Actually, it was a bit scary because they were quite big. They didn't seem to be so scared of me and some were covered in sores.
"There's obviously a rat problem as so many appeared over such a short distance."
Stomp has contacted the National Environment Agency for more info.
Last year, over 1,000 enforcement actions for rat-related lapses were jointly taken by NEA and the Singapore Food Agency against premises owners or occupiers, including operators of trade premises, shopping malls, and food establishments, said NEA in a Feb 14 news release.
Nearly half of the enforcements were for poor refuse management.
From April 1, NEA will tighten enforcement against premises managers and owners for rat-related lapses in three key areas:
- poor refuse management and housekeeping practices that create conditions favourable for the propagation of rats
- defects in refuse handling facilities, such as bins and bin centres, that can potentially serve as entry points for rats
- the presence of rat nests
Premises managers and owners who fail to practise proper refuse management or create conditions favourable to the harbouring or propagating of rats are liable to be punished with a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment for up to 3 months or both for a first offence under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act.
For a first offence under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations, premises owners can be fined up to a maximum of $1,000 and to a further fine not exceeding $100 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.
