law: Indian Ports Act, 1908
  11. Recovery of expenses of removals 
  If the owner of any such timber, raft or other thing, or the
  
  person who has caused any such obstruction, impediment or public nuisance as is
  
  mentioned in the last foregoing section, neglects to pay the reasonable
  
  expenses incurred in the removal thereof, within one week after demand, or
  
  within fourteen days after such removal has been notified in the official
  
  Gazette or in such other manner as the 2[Government] by general or
  
  special order, directs, the conservator may cause such timber, raft or other
  
  thing, or the materials of any public nuisance so removed, or so much thereof
  
  as may be necessary, to be sold by public auction;
  and may retain all the expenses of such removal and sale out of
  
  the proceeds of the sale, and shall pay the surplus of such proceeds, or
  
  deliver so much of the thing or materials as may remain unsold, to the person
  
  entitled to receive the same;
  and, if no such person appears, shall cause the same to be kept
  
  and deposited in such manner as the 2[Government] directs;
  and may, if necessary from time to time, realize the expenses of
  
  keeping the same, together with the expenses of sale, by a further sale of so
  
  much of the thing or materials as may remain unsold.