Publication of notification in the Extra Ordinary Gazette of India under section 6(1) of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 relating to the land schedule in respect of Barmer Palanpur Pipeline Project to be laid by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited for acquisition of ROU in the State of Gujarat Taluka Dhanera Distt Banaskantha

## Policy Analysis Report: Acquisition of Right of User for Petroleum Pipeline in Gujarat **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, concerning the acquisition of the right of user (RoU) in land for laying a petroleum pipeline in Gujarat. The policy, enacted under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, facilitates the Barmer Palanpur Pipeline project by transferring the RoU to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL). The report highlights the core objective, key provisions, affected stakeholders, and expected outcomes based solely on the provided government notification. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of a government notification pertaining to the acquisition of the right of user in land for the construction of a petroleum pipeline in Gujarat. The analysis is based exclusively on the provided text of the notification and aims to inform affected industries and stakeholders about the policy's key aspects. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a new policy action pertaining to land acquisition, executed under the existing framework of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective, as inferred from the text, is to acquire the right of user in specific land parcels in Gujarat to facilitate the laying of a pipeline for the transportation of finished petroleum products. The specific pipeline mentioned is the Barmer Palanpur Pipeline, connecting Barmer in Rajasthan to Palanpur in Gujarat. **4. Background and Rationale:** The policy addresses the need for land access to build and operate petroleum pipelines. This specific policy is required to allow the construction of the Barmer Palanpur Pipeline. The text indicates a prior intention to acquire the land via notification S.O. No. 4194(E) dated 8th October 2021, implying that initial steps have already been taken, and this current notification finalizes the acquisition. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This is a new policy action. The key provisions of this notification are: * **Declaration of Acquisition:** The Central Government declares that the right of user in the land specified in the Schedule appended to the notification is acquired for laying the pipeline. * **Vesting of Rights:** The right of user in the land is vested in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), effective from the date of publication of the declaration, free from all encumbrances. This means HPCL has the right to use the land for the specified purpose. * **HPCL Liability:** HPCL is exclusively liable for any compensation payable under Section 10 of the PMP Act, 1962. The Central Government is shielded from any legal claims or proceedings related to the pipeline. * **Schedule of Land:** The notification includes a schedule detailing the specific land parcels being acquired, listing the survey number, area in hectares, are, and square meters for each village in the Taluka Dhanera, District Banaskantha, State Gujarat. Specifically, land is being acquired in the villages of Anapur Chhota and Aalwada. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this policy are: * **Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL):** As the entity receiving the right of user, HPCL is directly responsible for laying the pipeline and for paying any compensation. * **Landowners in the specified villages (Anapur Chhota and Aalwada, Taluka Dhanera, District Banaskantha, Gujarat):** Landowners are affected by the acquisition of the right of user on their property and are entitled to compensation as per the PMP Act, 1962. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** Based on the text, the following implementation aspects can be inferred: * **Responsible Agency:** The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the responsible agency for issuing the notification. HPCL is the implementing agency responsible for laying the pipeline and providing compensation. The Competent Authority mentioned is responsible for submitting a report to the Central Government. * **Timelines:** The notification indicates that copies of the Extra Ordinary Gazette notification were made available to the public by 18th October 2021. The current notification is dated 24th November 2021. This implies a timeline for the acquisition process, from initial notification to final declaration. No specific timelines for the actual laying of the pipeline are provided in the text. * **Procedures:** The notification follows the procedures outlined in the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, specifically sections 3 and 6. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of this policy are: * **Pipeline Construction:** Facilitation of the construction of the Barmer Palanpur Pipeline, enhancing the transportation infrastructure for petroleum products. * **Economic Development:** Supporting economic development by ensuring the efficient transportation of petroleum products. * **HPCL operational capability:** Enables HPCL to proceed with the pipeline construction. * **Compensation to Landowners:** Landowners will receive compensation according to Section 10 of the PMP Act, 1962. **9. Conclusion:** The notification represents a crucial step in the construction of the Barmer Palanpur Pipeline by granting the right of user to HPCL for specific land parcels in Gujarat. It facilitates the efficient transportation of petroleum products and has a direct impact on HPCL and landowners in the affected areas. The policy action is governed by the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, ensuring a legal framework for the acquisition and compensation process. The successful implementation of this notification is vital for ensuring the timely completion of the pipeline project.

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