With 1,300 tons of waste collected daily and an estimated cost of one billion ariary per month in 2025, the sanitation of the capital requires significant resources. As the rainy season approaches, the ability to maintain the results of cleaning operations remains a central question.
Cleaning Antananarivo is not enough: waste must be prevented from returning. While the Urban Commune of Antananarivo (CUA) is increasing interventions, particularly around Lake Behoririka, the sustainability of these operations depends on available resources, canal maintenance, and the coordination of municipal services.
The Municipal Sanitation Company (SMA) has 40 trucks, with 23 to 25 operational daily. It collects about 1,300 tons of waste per day, a volume that could exceed 2,000 tons during the rainy season. The collection rate is estimated at 80 to 85%.
In 2025, the collection and transport of household waste to the Andralanitra landfill cost about one billion ariary per month. Financing relies on municipal revenues and property taxes. However, it remains unclear whether these resources are sufficient to meet current needs.
The Behoririka lake project illustrates the challenges: about 20,000 cubic meters of mud and earth have been removed, but 11,000 cubic meters of sediment and waste remain. Beyond extraction, the challenge is to ensure proper water flow and prevent new sediment accumulation. The SMA General Manager, Ranoelijaona Tantely, explains that wastewater from Ankadifotsy, Soarano, and Antanimena converges toward the lake, worsening silting and flood risks.
The success of these interventions depends on regular maintenance and coordination between the CUA, the SMA, and local residents. Meanwhile, displaced merchants at the new Behoririka market face economic difficulties, with some reporting zero sales since their relocation, raising concerns about the sustainability of their livelihoods as the year-end holidays approach.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-20 06:08:34 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/assainissement-antananarivo-t-elle-les.html