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

## Policy Analysis Report: Acquisition of Right of User for Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a government notification concerning the acquisition of the Right of User (ROU) in land for laying a petroleum pipeline. The notification, issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, declares the acquisition of ROU for a specific section of the Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline, dedicated to the transportation of Liquid Ethane, belonging to Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited. The key finding is the transfer of the ROU, free from encumbrances, directly to Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, rather than the government. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative overview of a government notification pertaining to the acquisition of the Right of User (ROU) in land for laying a petroleum pipeline. The analysis is solely based on the text of notification No. S.O. 5726(E), dated December 5, 2022, and aims to elucidate its key provisions and implications for relevant stakeholders. **3. Policy Overview:** This notification concerns the acquisition of ROU under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 (50 of 1962). * **Core Objective:** Based on the provided text, the core objective is to legally acquire the Right of User (ROU) in specified land for the purpose of laying a dedicated pipeline for the transportation of Liquid Ethane. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **Likely Problem/Issue the policy addresses:** The policy addresses the necessity of acquiring land rights for the construction and operation of crucial petroleum and mineral pipelines. Without a clear and legally defined process for acquiring land rights, infrastructure development in this sector would be significantly hampered, creating bottlenecks in the transportation of vital resources. The intention to acquire the land had already been declared through notification S.O. 4670E dated 27102021. This notification is therefore the formal acquisition. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * Detail the main components, rules, and actions mandated by the *entire provided text*. What does the policy establish or require? * **Declaration of Acquisition:** The Government of India declares that the Right of User (ROU) in the land specified in the schedule attached to the notification is acquired for laying the pipeline. The land is located in Maharashtra: specifically Mandal/Tehsil/Taluk: Karjat; District: Raigad; State: Maharashtra; Name of Village: Birdole; Survey No./Sub-Division No.: 371C. * **Transfer of ROU to Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited:** The notification directs that the ROU in the said land will vest in Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, free from all encumbrances, from the date of publication of the declaration, instead of vesting in the Government of India. This is a key element of the notification. * **Pipeline Purpose:** The acquired ROU is specifically for laying the Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited's Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline, intended for the transportation of Liquid Ethane from Dahej Manufacturing Division in Gujarat to Nagothane Manufacturing Division in Maharashtra. * **Absence of Objections:** It's stated that no public objections were received concerning the laying of the pipeline. * **Competent Authority Report:** The Competent Authority submitted a report to the Government of India under subsection 1 of Section 6 of the said Act. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the following stakeholders are directly affected: * **Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited:** As the entity receiving the ROU, they are the primary beneficiary and are responsible for laying the pipeline. * **Ms Reliance Industries Limited (RIL):** As the owner of the Dahej and Nagothane Manufacturing Divisions, they rely on the pipeline for transportation of Liquid Ethane. * **Landowners in Birdole, Karjat, Raigad, Maharashtra:** Their land is subject to the ROU, and they are affected by the pipeline construction and operation. * **Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:** The issuing and implementing body of the notification. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies mentioned:** * Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (issuing authority) * Competent Authority (submitted report) * Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited (responsible for pipeline laying) * **Timelines or procedures specified:** * The ROU vests in Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited from the date of publication of the declaration. * The notification references previous actions, suggesting a process involving an initial intention declaration (S.O. 4670E dated 27102021), a public consultation period, and a report from a competent authority. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome is to facilitate the construction and operation of the Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline by ensuring that Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited has the legal right to use the specified land for this purpose. Specifically, the impact of vesting the right directly with Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited, free from encumbrances, is likely to expedite the pipeline construction process, avoiding potential delays associated with government ownership of the ROU and subsequent transfer. This streamlining should ultimately improve the efficiency of ethane transportation. **9. Conclusion:** The notification analyzed details the acquisition of Right of User for land required for laying the Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline. Its significance lies in granting Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited the necessary rights to proceed with the pipeline construction. The direct transfer of ROU to the company, free from encumbrances, highlights the government's intention to streamline the infrastructure development process in the petroleum and natural gas sector.

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