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).

## Report on Notification Regarding Petroleum and Mineral Pipelines Acquisition of Right of User **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, concerning the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Acquisition of Right of User in Land Act, 1962. The notification, dated January 17, 2022, *amends* a previous notification (S.O. 1909 E dated 25052016) by denotifying certain land parcels from the acquisition of Right of User (ROU). This denotification is based on a report submitted by the Competent Authority, acting on information from Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, indicating that these land parcels are not within the final alignment of the laid pipeline. The key finding is that the ROU is being removed from specific parcels, impacting land owners and potentially Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of a specific notification pertaining to the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Acquisition of Right of User in Land Act, 1962. This analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification and aims to clarify the amendment's objectives, changes, and potential impact. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification serves as an *amendment* to the original policy established by notification S.O. 1909 E dated 25052016, 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):** The original policy's objective was the acquisition of the Right of User in land for laying petroleum and mineral pipelines. The *amendment* aims to rectify the initial land acquisition by removing the ROU designation from land parcels no longer required for the pipeline's final alignment. This suggests an objective of efficient land use and minimizing disruption to landowners where possible. **4. Background and Rationale:** This notification amends a previous acquisition of ROU. The likely reason for this *specific amendment* is to correct inaccuracies in the initial land acquisition process. Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, after laying the pipeline, informed the Competent Authority that certain previously acquired land parcels were not, in fact, within the pipeline's final alignment. This suggests an initial overestimation or changes in the pipeline route during construction. This amendment addresses the need to release land unnecessarily encumbered by the ROU designation. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification *amends* the original policy by: * **Changing:** The specific land parcels subject to the Right of User. * **New Rule/Provision:** It *denotifies* the ROU on specifically listed land parcels identified in the schedule annexed to the notification. The schedule details the village, survey number, subdivision number, and area (in Hectares and Ares) for each denotified parcel. For example, in Kurmurli village, survey number 22, subdivision 00 01, 80 Hec. are being denotified. The schedule lists similar details for other villages like Adharne, Shene, and Borgaon. * **Difference/Effect:** The effect of this change is to release the identified land parcels from the restrictions associated with the ROU. Landowners of these parcels regain full control and usage rights over their land, free from the limitations imposed by the pipeline project. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected stakeholders are: * **Landowners:** Specifically, those individuals or entities owning the land parcels listed in the schedule within the villages of Kurmurli, Adharne, Shene, and Borgaon in the Raigad district of Maharashtra. * **Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited:** As the company that initiated the request for denotification, they are affected by a reduction in land area under ROU, potentially influencing their operational and maintenance responsibilities. * The affected industry, to which this report is addressed **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** * **Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:** Responsible for issuing the notification and making the final decision on denotification. * **Competent Authority:** Responsible for reviewing the information from Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited and submitting a report to the Ministry. * **Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited:** Responsible for providing information regarding the final alignment of the pipeline. * **Timelines or procedures:** No specific timelines or procedures are detailed *within this notification text* beyond the fact that the denotification follows a report submitted by the Competent Authority based on information from Reliance. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of these *specific changes* is to: * **Reduce Landowner Burden:** Alleviate restrictions on land use for landowners whose properties are no longer required for the pipeline project, potentially leading to improved relations between the company and the community. * **Streamline Land Acquisition:** Ensure that the ROU is only applied to land that is genuinely necessary for the pipeline's operation, improving the efficiency and fairness of the land acquisition process. This contributes to a more targeted and appropriate application of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act. **9. Conclusion:** The notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas represents a refinement of the initial land acquisition process for the Reliance Ethane Pipelines project. By denotifying specific land parcels from the Right of User, the amendment addresses inaccuracies in the original acquisition, reduces the burden on landowners, and promotes a more efficient and equitable application of land acquisition policies. This amendment demonstrates a process for adjusting land rights based on actual pipeline alignment, which is significant for landowners and the petroleum pipeline industry.

Key Entities Referenced