The canal in front of the La Réunion Kely neighborhood is overrun with waste. Sanitation operations conducted by the Antananarivo Urban Municipality (CUA) often fail to produce lasting results. Days or even hours after cleaning, garbage reappears. The streets of Anosibe are a perfect example. Municipal teams have already carried out sanitation operations there, but the areas quickly returned to their usual state. "The problem is that during cleaning, water couldn't flow due to blocked canals," explains a municipal official. These blockages are mainly caused by illegal waste dumping, a practice that persists despite numerous awareness campaigns by the Antananarivo Urban Municipality.
In Ampefiloha, near the La Réunion Kely sector, the surroundings have remained clean since the CUA operations. However, garbage continues to invade the canal running through the neighborhood due to illegal dumping. The same situation exists along Independence Avenue and in Behoririka. Although cleaning occurs daily there, waste accumulates constantly and streets remain permeated with urine odors, especially in the evening.
Antananarivo's city hall is intensifying citizen awareness about maintaining cleanliness in the city. "Canals are not dumpsites," "Respecting cleanliness is everyone's duty," "It is strictly forbidden to throw garbage into drainage canals," and "City cleanliness and maintenance are everyone's shared responsibility," it reminds residents.
Sanctions have also been announced against those who violate the municipal hygiene code. But these measures are still struggling to take effect. People continue throwing garbage everywhere and using outdoor areas instead of public toilets. "Our main obstacle remains our mentality," regrets a city hall official.