Belgrade installs public fountain amid heatwave, activists call for more

Belgrade's Emergency Situations Headquarters has implemented preventative measures in response to high temperatures, including the placement of drinking water tankers at various city locations. One such tanker is situated on Nikola Pašić Square, where a public drinking fountain is now operational.

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We are near here had two fountains on both sides of the fountain, and those fountains were in a visible place. People don't know about this one because it is tucked away.

However, N1 reporter Snežana Radovanović noted that citizens frequently overlook the fountain, suggesting its location is not easily noticeable. While the water tankers are a temporary solution, they are positioned at 10 sites across the city, with four concentrated in the center, which activists argue is insufficient for the entire metropolitan area.

Snežana Radovanović, from the "Zbor Stari grad" (Old Town Assembly) civic group, acknowledged the fountain's operation as a positive step but criticized its placement. She contrasted it with two previous fountains located near a fountain, which were more visible. Radovanović appealed for a systemic approach, advocating for more public fountains and a publicly available map detailing their locations.

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The response of the authorities with the deployment of tankers is a good temporary measure. It is bad that we have 10 tankers for the entire territory of the city, four of which are in the center, which is not enough for the city.

Radovanović also highlighted the increasing heat and the city's trend of removing greenery during reconstructions, which she believes exacerbates the urban heat island effect. She urged a return to preserving and planting more mature trees, citing Republic Square as an example of a once-green area that now feels like a "radiator" due to excessive concrete and a lack of cooling features like fountains.

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We appeal to take action and to come to a systemic solution which are not tankers. But fountains, of which there should be more and we should have some map in visible places where everyone can get acquainted with the schedule of fountains.

The city has deployed water tankers to busy areas during predicted extreme temperatures. Locations include "Beogradski sajam," "Zeleni venac," the roundabout at GO Novi Beograd, Zemun's Cara Dušana, Trg Slavija, Trg Nikole Pašića, Trg Republike, Avijatičarski trg, Ada Ciganlija, and Bulevar Mihajla Pupina.

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Every reconstruction in the city removes greenery. It turns Belgrade into a concrete zone that additionally radiates and heats the city. An appeal to return to allowing as many mature trees as possible.