§ 50. Sale of abandoned canal lands. The commissioner of general
services may sell and convey at public or private sale the right, title
and interest of the state in and to any real property, acquired for
canal purposes, which the commissioner of transportation may determine
to have been abandoned for such purposes, or as to which a determination
of abandonment shall have been heretofore made pursuant to law. The
commissioner of general services may sell and convey such abandoned
lands in the same manner and with the same discretion as he may sell and
convey unappropriated state land pursuant to article three of this
chapter. The commissioner may sell such abandoned canal lands for not
less than the appraised value thereof to occupants of such abandoned
canal lands or owners of adjacent land who have used or improved such
abandoned canal lands either under a permit issued pursuant to section
one hundred of the canal law or in good faith without knowledge that
such canal lands were owned by the state; provided that such appraised
value shall be exclusive of the value of improvements made on the
property by the purchaser.