Claims to be preferred to the Collector

(1) All claims for compensation under this Act other than claims of the nature provided for in section 28 shall be made to the Collector of the District in which such claim or part of it arises (2) The Collector shall enquire into all such claims and determine the amount of compensation, if any, which should be awarded. In determining such amount, the Collector shall, as far as possible be guided by the provisions of sections 23 and 24 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894: 1 of 1894 Provided that regard shall be had to the diminution in the market value at the time of awarding compensation, of the property in respect of which compensation is claimed; and where such market value is not ascertainable, the amount shall be reckoned at twelve times the amount of the diminution of the annual net profits of such property caused by the exercise of powers conferred by this Act: Provided further that no order determining the amount of compensation shall be made by the Collector under this section without the previous approval of the Government or such officer as the Government may appoint in this behalf.