Belgrade Activists: EXPO Construction Threatens Drinking Water

The initiative "Belgrade Stays" is demanding an immediate halt to all construction activities at Belgrade's water sources and their protective zones, adhering to the Law on Drinking Water Source Protection. Activists and residents on the Sava's left bank have previously voiced concerns that construction on the Sava embankment could endanger the water source near Galovica.

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How can we conclude otherwise than that EXPO is more important than the water we drink?

According to N1 reporter observations, citizens have reasons for concern. Dušan Čavić, an activist from Block 45, explained that Belgrade receives its drinking water from two sources: 60% from processing Sava River water in Makiš and about 40% from groundwater extraction. He recalled an incident from June of the previous year when a well near the EXPO site was affected. "Reni well number 40 is located at the height of EXPO, next to which a transfer point for EXPO needs was built. Dredging was carried out. Our comrade Branislav Tomić sent a letter to the Ministry of Health to point out that this is forbidden. He received a response that everything is okay for now, that analyses were performed and that if contamination is found, it will be excluded from the system. How can we conclude otherwise than that EXPO is more important than the water we drink?" Čavić stated.

Čavić further alleged that a service road is being built for the EXPO. "The court prohibited them from working, but they are still working because someone said the embankment needs urgent repair, and this is not embankment repair. It is very sad and devastating because some competent professional services are doing everything to leave us unprotected due to the undermining of the embankment's safety and lack of water," he said. He asserted that on April 27, the Administrative Court issued a decision suspending the works until a final court ruling. "All this should have stopped. As far as we know, Srbijavode has still not received the court's papers. A police officer told us, 'What do I know, did you make this through artificial intelligence?'"

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It is very sad and devastating because some competent professional services are doing everything to leave us unprotected due to the undermining of the embankment's safety and lack of water.

N1 reporter sent questions to JP Srbijavode, receiving an email response to seek answers on their website and Instagram. After failing to find precise answers, the reporter requested Srbijavode to delegate a spokesperson for a live interview. Instead, the following email was received: “Dear Sir/Madam, As long as you present factual and professional information in your posts in a context that leads to their misinterpretation and the creation of spin, we will not be able to answer your questions or provide you with a spokesperson. We believe that for the continuation of professional cooperation, it is necessary to convey facts completely, accurately, and without taking them out of context.” The questions citizens remain unanswered include: Why is Srbijavode carrying out works along the Sava embankment at Galovica despite the Administrative Court's order to halt them? Who in the company is responsible for making such a decision? What measures have been taken to protect the Galovica water source? Who issued the construction permit for these works? Where do the recently extracted groundwater sources originate from?

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As long as you present factual and professional information in your posts in a context that leads to their misinterpretation and the creation of spin, we will not be able to answer your questions or provide you with a spokesperson. We believe that for the continuation of professional cooperation, it is necessary to convey facts completely, accurately, and without taking them out of context.