Section 17 — Power of Gram Panchayats as to public streets, Waterways and other matters

17. A Gram Panchayat shall have control of all public streets, waterways, other than canals as defined in sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, situate within its jurisdiction not being a private street or waterways and not being under the control of the State Government or the district Board or any other authority specified by the State Government and may do all things necessary for the maintenance and repair thereof and may—

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(a) construct new bridges or culvarts;

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(b) divert, discontinue or close any public street, culvert or bridge ;

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(c) widen, open, enlarge or otherwise improve any public street, culvert or bridge with minimum damage to the neighbouring fields;

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(d) deepen or otherwise improve waterways;

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33[(e) with the sanction of the prescribed authority and where a canal exists under the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, with the sanction also of such officer of the Irrigation Department as the State Government may prescribe, undertake small irrigation projects in addition to those specified by order under clause (u) of section 15].

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(f) cut any hedge or branch of any tree projecting on a public street ;

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(g) notify the setting apart of any public watercourse for drinking or culinary purposes, and prohibit bathing, washing of clothes and animals or doing of other acts likely to pollute the course so set apart :

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Provided that nothing shall be done under clause (g) which may affect a canal government by the Northern India Canal and Drainage Act, 1873, without the prior permission of the authority prescribed by the State Government in this behalf.

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