Publication of De Notification in the Extra Ordinary Gazette of India under Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (ARUL) Act, 1962 for Dahej (Gujarat) Nagothane (Maharashtra) Liquid Ethane Pipeline (DNEPL).

## Policy Analysis Report: Denotification of Land Acquisition for Petroleum and Mineral Pipelines in Thane, Maharashtra **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, concerning the denotification of land acquisition for petroleum and mineral pipelines in Thane, Maharashtra. The notification, dated January 17, 2022, pertains to land initially acquired under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. The core purpose of this amendment is to release land parcels from the Right of User (ROU) that are no longer required for the pipeline's final alignment, specifically for Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. The key finding is that certain land parcels within the specified area are being denotified, impacting landowners and Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide an informative analysis of a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas regarding the denotification of land acquisition for petroleum and mineral pipelines. The analysis is based solely on the provided notification text. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification represents an amendment to the original acquisition of Right of User (ROU) in land, which was initially declared under notification number S.O. 1280 E dated 23032016. * **Core Objective:** The core objective of *this amendment* is to denotify land parcels that are no longer required for the pipeline’s final alignment. **4. Background and Rationale:** This notification is an amendment. The likely reason for this amendment is that Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, the entity for whom the original land acquisition was undertaken, determined that certain portions of the acquired land were not necessary for the final pipeline alignment after construction. The amendment serves to release these excess land parcels, potentially reducing costs for Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited and restoring land rights to the original owners. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification details specific changes to the original land acquisition. * **What specific part of the original policy is being changed:** The notification changes the originally acquired Right of User by *removing* the ROU for specific land parcels. * **What the *new* rule/provision *is*:** The new provision is the formal *denotification* of the Right of User for the land parcels listed in the schedule attached to the notification. This means Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited no longer has the right to use the specified portions of land for pipeline purposes. * **Explain the *difference* or the *effect* of this specific change:** The effect of this change is that the original landowners regain full control and ownership rights over the denotified land parcels. Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited’s easements are removed. Specifically, the following parcels are denotified: * Village: Done, Survey No. 142, SubDivision No. 00, Area: 10, 27 Hec. Are CAre * Village: Done, Nala in Survey No. 141, Area: 00, 01, 70 Hec. Are CAre * Village: Done, Survey No. 193, SubDivision No. 00, Area: 13, 12 Hec. Are CAre **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders affected by these changes are: * **Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited:** Directly impacted as it adjusts its pipeline project to align with the denotified land areas. * **Landowners in the specified area:** Regain rights over the denotified land parcels in Thane, Maharashtra. * **Competent Authority:** The agency responsible for implementing the land acquisition and denotification processes. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:** The notification mentions the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Competent Authority, and Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. * **Any timelines or procedures specified in the text:** The notification indicates that the denotification follows a report submitted by the Competent Authority based on information from Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. This suggests a process involving assessment of land requirements and reporting before denotification. * Since this is an amendment, Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited must alter their records to reflect the new changes and that ROU has been lifted from the parcels of land. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these changes is: * **Efficient Land Use:** Ensuring land is only acquired and used where strictly necessary for the pipeline project. * **Reduced Project Costs:** Potentially reducing costs for Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited by relinquishing rights to land no longer required. * **Restoration of Land Rights:** Restoring land ownership to the original owners, allowing them to utilize their property as desired (subject to applicable regulations). **9. Conclusion:** The notification represents a specific adjustment to land acquisition for a petroleum and mineral pipeline project in Thane, Maharashtra. It streamlines the Right of User to accurately reflect the final pipeline alignment. The changes have a direct impact on Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited and landowners in the affected area and promotes efficient use of land resources. The denotification of specific land parcels signifies a refinement of the original land acquisition process, potentially leading to cost savings for the company and restoration of land rights for landowners.

Key Entities Referenced