Section 17 in The West Bengal Private Forests Act, 1948.
17. Imposition of cess.
(1)The [State] [Word substituted for the word 'Provincial' by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.] Government may impose in the prescribed manner on an acreage basis a cess on all private forests within a notified area with effect from such date, not being before the expiry of ten years from the date of publication of a notification under section 3, as the said Government may appoint.(2)Such cess shall be so calculated as to yield a sum not greater than that which is sufficient to meet the cost of the Regional Forest-officer and his staff, including any expenses incurred in connection with their work to be determined in the prescribed manner.(3)If the Regional Forest-officer of his staff' does any work in connection with a Government forest, a proportionate deduction shall be made from the cost of such Regional Forest-officer and of his staff before the cess is calculated under sub-section (2).(4)Every cess imposed under sub-section (1) shall be recoverable as a public demand under the Bengal Public Demands Recovery Act, 1913.(5)The [State] [Word substituted for the word 'Provincial' by the Adaptation of Laws Order, 1950.] Government may, by general or special order exempt any private forest in a notified area from the payment of any cess imposed under sub-section (1) or of any portion of such cess for such period as may be specified in such order.
