Publication of notification in Extra Ordinary Gazette of India under clause (a) of section 2 of the petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 relating to notification of Prant officer, Bhachau Kutch, District Kutch, as Competent Authority (CA) in the State of Gujarat for HRRL Arab Mix Crude Oil Pipeline

## Policy Analysis Report: Notification Regarding Competent Authority for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, effective April 16, 2025, concerning the authorization and denotification of the Competent Authority for the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. Specifically, it details the change in the designated authority responsible for functions related to the acquisition of right of user in land for the Arab Mix Crude Oil Pipeline within a specific area of Gujarat. The key finding is the denotification of the previous authority and the authorization of the Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch, Gujarat State, for the specified area. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an analysis of a notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, focusing on the changes to the Competent Authority responsible for specific functions related to the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd., as detailed in the provided text. The analysis is based solely on the information contained within the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification is an *amendment* to existing regulations concerning the implementation of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. * **Core Objective:** The core objective, inferred from the text, is to specify and update the designated Competent Authority responsible for facilitating the acquisition of land rights for the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. pipeline project in a specific area. **4. Background and Rationale:** * This is an *amendment*. The likely reason for this specific amendment is to update the designated Competent Authority. The provided text suggests a change in geographical responsibility for overseeing land acquisition related to the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. pipeline, possibly reflecting a shift in project phases or regional administration. The previous authority, Shri Chandrakant Shanabhai Solanki, has been denotified, suggesting a need for a different or more locally focused authority. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification introduces the following specific changes: * **Part of Original Policy Being Changed:** This notification amends the previously designated Competent Authority for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. in Gujarat State. The specific section of the original policy being amended is the designation of the Competent Authority responsible for facilitating the acquisition of land rights for the specified pipeline project under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. * **New Rule/Provision:** The new rule/provision is the authorization of the Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch, Gujarat State, as the Competent Authority for the Arab Mix Crude Oil Pipeline Hydrocarbon Pipeline concerning the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. project in the Dist. Kutch Gujarat. * **Difference/Effect of Change:** The effect of this change is to replace the previously designated authority (Shri Chandrakant Shanabhai Solanki) with a new authority (Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch), presumably to align the oversight of land acquisition with the specific geographical area now under the Prant Officer's jurisdiction. This suggests a possible shift in the project's geographical focus. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include: * **HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd.:** The company is directly impacted by the change in the designated authority, as it affects the process of acquiring land rights for its pipeline project. * **Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch, Gujarat State:** This individual/office assumes new responsibilities as the designated Competent Authority. * **Landowners within Dist. Kutch Gujarat:** Landowners in the specified area are affected by the change in authority as it relates to the acquisition of land rights for the pipeline. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the responsible agency for issuing this notification. The Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch, Gujarat State, is the responsible body for implementing the Act within their jurisdiction. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification is effective from the date of its issue (April 16, 2025). The procedures for land acquisition would likely follow the guidelines outlined in the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, though specific details are not provided in the text. * **Implementation Aspects Specific to the Changes:** The change requires HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. to coordinate with the new Competent Authority, the Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch, Gujarat State, for matters related to land acquisition in the specified area. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to streamline the land acquisition process for the Arab Mix Crude Oil Pipeline Hydrocarbon Pipeline project. By designating a Competent Authority with jurisdiction over the specific area of Kutch, Gujarat, the Ministry likely aims to facilitate more efficient and localized decision-making regarding land rights acquisition. **9. Conclusion:** The notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas amends the designated Competent Authority for the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd. pipeline project in Gujarat, replacing the previous authority with the Prant Officer, Bhachau Kutch, Gujarat State. This change likely aims to streamline land acquisition processes by assigning responsibility to a more geographically relevant authority. The notification is significant for HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd., landowners in the specified area, and the Prant Officer, who now holds the responsibility for facilitating land acquisition in accordance with the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962.

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