Section 49 in The Orissa Grama Panchayats Act, 1964
49. Public streets and waterways.
- Subject to the provisions of any other law for the time being in force a Grama Panchayat shall have control of all public streets and waterways situated in the Grama not being private property and not being under the control of any other local authority, or the Central or State Government and may do all things necessary for the maintenance and repair thereof and may,-(a)construct new bridges and culverts;(b)divert or close any such public street, bridge or culvert;(c)widen, open, enlarge or otherwise improve any such public street, culvert or bridge and with minimum damage to the neighbouring fields, plant and preserve trees on the sides of such street;(d)deepen or otherwise improve such waterways;(e)with the sanction of the prescribed authority undertake small irrigation projects;(f)trim branches of trees projecting on public streets;(g)set apart by public notice any public source of water-supply for drinking or culinary purposes and likewise prohibit bathing, washing of clothes and animals or other acts likely to pollute the source so set apart :Provided that nothing in this clause shall be deemed to authorise a Grama Panchayat to interfere with a canal governed by any other law for the time being in force without the prior permission of the prescribed authority.
