17. Compensation
Compensation shall be payable out of the public revenues to the owner of any crops or trees cut or damaged, in the exercise of any of the powers conferred by section 16, and if any question shall arise as to the amount of compensation to be paid or the right to a claimant to recover compensation such question shall, in default of agreement between the Chief Surveyor and all persons concerned, be finally determined by a magistrate on application made by the Chief Surveyor or any person authorised by him or her in that behalf or by any person claiming to be entitled to compensation under the provisions of this section.
However, in determining the value of any crops or trees cut or damaged the Chief Surveyor or the magistrate, as the case may be, shall have regard to the current crop valuation list prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Also, save at the discretion of the Chief Surveyor no such application shall be granted if it is by a person claiming to be entitled to compensation and is made more than 90 days after the date on which the crop or trees in respect of which the claim is brought were cut or damaged.