Belgrade unprepared for extreme downpours, warns movement

Belgrade is ill-equipped to handle extreme rainfall, warns the "Kreni-Promeni" movement, urging immediate action against escalating urban floods. The group points to recurring scenes of flooded streets, traffic gridlock, and overwhelming water volumes after heavy showers as evidence of the capital's vulnerability. Aleksandar Anđelković, a councilor for the movement, stated that the problem stems not just from the amount of rain, but from a combination of outdated infrastructure and excessive urbanization. He emphasized that Belgrade currently lacks an adequate system for managing atmospheric water. "Due to the outdated sewage network and excessive concretization, its key thoroughfares turn into impassable torrents after every heavy downpour," he said. The movement identified several highly vulnerable locations, including Autokomanda, Južni Bulevar, Radnička Street near the underpass, and Ada Ciganlija. Areas on the left bank of the Danube, such as Krnjača, Kotež, and Borča, were also highlighted for their underdeveloped sewage systems. Anđelković proposed several relatively quick measures. These include installing smart sensors in drains and manholes to provide early warnings about system blockages. He also called for urgent cleaning and dredging of drainage canals on the left bank of the Danube to improve their capacity for atmospheric water. The movement advocates for permeable surfaces in new open parking lots and the procurement of mobile, temporary above-ground reservoirs and barriers along the edges of critical roads. A fifth recommendation involves creating "rain gardens" by transforming small, unused grassy areas into depressions filled with gravel and hydrophilous plants that absorb and filter rainwater. These proposed solutions aim to enhance the city's resilience without requiring lengthy, large-scale infrastructure projects.