law: The Punjab District Boards Act, 1883
  B.-Duties of District and Local Boards
  20. Duties of district board.-
  (1) The following matters shall, subject to such exceptions and. conditions as the Local Government may make and impose, be under the control and. administration of each district board within the area subject to its authority :-
  (a) the management of all property vested in the district board ;
  (b) the construction, repair and maintenance of public roads and other means of communication;
  (c) the establishment, management, maintenance and visiting of public hospitals, dispensaries, sarais and schools, and the construction and repair of all buildings connected with these institutions;
  (d) the training of teachers and the establishment of scholarships ;
  (e) the supply, storage and preservation from pollution of water for drinking, cooking and bathing purposes ; and.
  (f) the planting and preservation of trees.
  (2) The Local Government may direct that any of the following. matters shall, subject to such exceptions and conditions as it may make and impose, be under the control and administration of a district board Within the area subject to its authority :-
  (g) the management of any property vested in Her Majesty ;
  (h) the establishment, maintenance, visiting and management of markets, rest-houses, encampinggrounds and other public institutions, and the construction and repair or all buildings connected with these institutions ;
  (i) the construction and repair of embankments, and the supply, storage and control of water for agricultural purposes ;
  (j) the preservation and reclamation of soil, and the drainage and reclamation of swamps ;
  (k) the construction, repair and maintenance of famine preventive works, and the establishment and maintenance of such relief-works, relief-houses and other measures in time of famine or scarcity as may be entrusted to the charge of the board by the Local Government ;
  (l) the registration of births, marriages and deaths ;
  (m) fairs and agricultural shows and industrial exhibitions ;
  (n) the establishment and management of pounds, including, where the Cattle-trespass Act 1871 (1 of 1871), is in force, such functions of the Local Government and the Magistrate of the district under that Act as may be transferred to the board by the Local Government ;
  (o) the management of such public ferries as may be entrusted to the charge of the board under section 7A of the Northern India Ferries Act, 1878, as amended by this Act.
  (p) any other local works or measures likely to promote the health, comfort, convenience and interests of the public or the agricultural or industrial prosperity of the country; and
  (q) any other matters which the Local Govern-went may declare to be fit and proper matters to be taken under the control and administration of the board.
  (3) The Local Government may cancel or modify any direction given by it under sub-section (2).
  (4) A district board shall, so far as the funds at its disposal permit, make due provision for all matters placed under its control or administration by or under this section.