Since the early 2000s , Belgrade plutocracy began building summer houses on the bank , in the protected zone despite the ban . Originally those were smaller , wooden houses but in time , as there was no official reaction , the construction of the proper multi-floor houses and villas with private peers on the river began . Owners of the villas include politicians , judges , managers of the state owned companies and known criminals . Use of heavy building machinery and trucks deteriorated the embankment itself , while the forests in the riparian zone were cut in order to fill the building ground with additional earth and gravel . That way , the riparian zone was elevated , stultifying its existence , as the area ready to accept the excess waters during floods was reduced . Another problem caused by the houses is possible contamination of 16 Ranney collectors in this area , which are part of Belgrade 's water supply system . The houses also physically obstruct access to the wells for the communal services . None of the floods that hit Serbia since then , including the massive 2009 European floods and 2014 Southeast Europe floods , prompted authorities to stop the destruction of the zone . Dragan Đilas , mayor of Belgrade 2008-13 , publicly stated that city has no money to tangle the problem , thus allowing the continued construction
2014 Southeast Europe floods
2014 Southeast Europe floods
Savski Nasip