The accumulation of waste in the main canal of the Metzinger Valley in Mahajanga threatens to cause significant flooding as soon as the first rains arrive. With the rainy season approaching in a few months, the annual cleaning work along this drainage channel has not yet begun.
This natural waterway and its 3,600-meter-long discharge canal pass through ten densely populated fokontany, including Tsararano Ambany, Tsararano Anosikely, Ambalavola, Mahavoky Avaratra, and Tsaramandroso Plateforme. During the rainy season or cyclones, water stagnates and overflows, often submerging homes in low-lying areas for extended periods. Nearly 110,000 residents live in the vicinity of the canal.
Although the Mahajanga municipality reduced the mandatory distance between buildings and the valley from 25 to 10 meters, some houses are now located less than 5 meters away. The channel also serves as an open-air dump for solid waste, including plastics, mud, and water hyacinths, which obstruct the drainage network.
The proper functioning of the Metzinger Valley is essential for wastewater discharge into the sea. Each year, the municipality plans maintenance work under the High Labor Intensity (HIMO) program. On July 22, the Emergency Prevention and Management Unit (CPGU) organized a workshop on the role of canals in flood disaster prevention as part of the Regional Project for Climate Resilience (PRRC) in Mahajanga.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-17 05:38:45 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/saison-des-pluies-le-vallon-de.html