69. (1) There shall be established for each district a Consolidated Gaon Fund to which the following amounts shall be credited, namely —
(a) the amount referred to in the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 68 ;
(b) all contributions received by the Collector under sub-section (2) ;
(c) such other amounts as may be prescribed.
(2) Every [ Gram Panchayats] in a district shall pay to the Collector annually such percentage, not exceeding twenty five as the State Government may from time to time notify of the total amount credited to the Gaon Fund under section 67, in the manner prescribed.
(3) The Consolidated Gaon Fund shall be operated by the Collector and may be applied for the following purposes namely —
(a) the payment of fees and allowances, if any, of the lawyers appointed under section 72 ;
(b) the payment of expenses incurred in connection with the conduct and prosecution of suits, applications or other proceedings by or against the [Gram Panchayats] or the Bhumi Prabandhak Samiti under this Code ;
[(c) The payment of expenses incurred on protection, preservation and development of lands of common utility ; and ]
(d) the payment of any other sum which the State Government may, by general or special order, declare to be an appropriate charge on such fund.
(4) The Consolidated Gaon Funds constituted under any of the enactments repealed by this Code and subsisting immediately before its commencement shall be deemed to have been constituted under this section.
[ (5) The State Government may, by notification in the gazette, direct that a consolidated Gaon Fund shall be established also for each Tahsil for the purpose and in the manner prescribed. ]