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 Maharashtra **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a government notification regarding the denotification of land acquisition for petroleum and mineral pipelines in Maharashtra, specifically concerning land originally intended for use by Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. The notification, dated January 17, 2022, denotifies the Right of User acquired for certain land parcels within the Karjat Tehsil of Raigad District, Maharashtra, after the Competent Authority determined those land parcels were not within the final alignment of the pipeline. This amendment aims to rectify land acquisition inaccuracies, freeing up land not required for the project. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an overview and analysis of a government notification published in the Gazette of India on February 9, 2022. The notification concerns the denotification of previously acquired land rights for petroleum and mineral pipeline infrastructure. This analysis is based solely on the information contained within the provided text of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Amendment:** This notification acts as an amendment to a previous notification (S.O. 1398 E dated 07042016) which declared the acquisition of Right of User in land under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Acquisition of Right of User in Land Act, 1962. * **Core Objective(s) as stated or inferred from the provided text:** The core objective of the amendment is to denotify the Right of User for land parcels that are not required for the pipeline's final alignment, streamlining land usage and potentially reducing associated costs. **4. Background and Rationale:** * The amendment addresses potential inaccuracies in the initial land acquisition process. Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, the pipeline operator, identified land parcels initially designated for the pipeline that, upon final alignment, were deemed unnecessary. The notification suggests a process for rectifying these instances, ensuring that only land essential for the pipeline is encumbered. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * **Specific Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** The amendment modifies the original notification (S.O. 1398 E dated 07042016) concerning the land acquisition by denotifying certain land parcels from the Right of User. * **New Rule/Provision:** The *new* rule, based solely on the amendment text, is the denotification of specific land parcels identified in the schedule annexed to the notification. This means the government no longer claims the Right of User over these parcels. * **Difference/Effect of the Change:** The effect of this change is to release the identified land parcels from the encumbrance of the original notification. This allows the landowners (prior to the original notification) to regain full control and usage rights of their property. Specifically, survey number 652 00 00 06 in Haliwali village, Karjat Tehsil, Raigad District, Maharashtra is impacted. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include: * **Landowners** of the specific land parcels (survey number 652 00 00 06 in Haliwali village) being denotified. * **Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited**, the company responsible for the pipeline, as it refines its land requirements and operational footprint. * **The Competent Authority**, who handled submissions from Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited and reported to the Indian Government. * **Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas**, the ministry that reviewed the report, found it satisfactory, and declared the denotification. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:** The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Competent Authority, and Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited were involved in the implementation. * **Timelines or procedures specified in the text:** The notification itself signifies the completion of the denotification process for the specified land parcels. The text implies a process involving intimation from the pipeline company, a report from the Competent Authority, review by the government, and finally, the issuance of the denotification notification. The date of denotification is 17th January 2022. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this amendment is to: * **Reduce legal and administrative burdens** related to land that is not ultimately needed for the pipeline project. * **Return land rights** to the original owners, allowing them to utilize their property as they see fit. * **Improve public relations** between the pipeline company and the affected communities. * **Improve the efficiency** of the petroleum and mineral pipeline development by only using required areas and releasing unrequired lands. **9. Conclusion:** The notification represents a targeted adjustment to existing land acquisition policies related to petroleum and mineral pipelines. By denotifying land parcels deemed unnecessary for the pipeline’s final alignment, the government aims to streamline land usage, potentially reduce costs, and respect the property rights of affected landowners. This amendment highlights the importance of accurate planning and flexible adaptation in infrastructure projects.

Key Entities Referenced