Anantnag, Oct 15: Residents of Ashajipora in Anantnag have raised serious concerns over the authorities’ failure to carry out desilting work on the Ganaai Canal, warning that the neglected waterway poses an increasing flood risk to the area. Locals said that even minor rainfall leads to waterlogging and flooding, disrupting daily life and threatening nearby homes and farmland. They allege that despite repeated appeals, no effective measures have been taken to clean or restore the canal. Social activist Tariq Ahmad Wani criticized the incumbent MLA for what he termed “continued neglect and inaction”, stating that the lack of maintenance reflects poor governance and disregard for public safety. Residents have urged the Irrigation Department and district administration to immediately undertake desilting and restoration work on the canal to prevent further damage and inconvenience. Locals added that while the problem has been known for years, the failure of elected representatives to address the issue has left the community frustrated and vulnerable to repeated flooding.