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 in the State of Maharashtra.

**Report on Government of India Notification Regarding Right of User for Petroleum and Mineral Pipelines** **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, published on May 9, 2022. The notification declares the acquisition of Right of User (ROU) in specific land parcels in Raigad district, Maharashtra, for laying a pipeline dedicated to transporting liquid ethane. This pipeline project, Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline, is being undertaken by Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited (REPL) for Ms Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). The key finding is the vesting of the ROU with REPL, free from encumbrances, to facilitate the project's execution. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an overview and analysis of the Government of India's notification, specifically S.O. 2154(E), dated April 28, 2022, concerning the acquisition of Right of User (ROU) for a petroleum and mineral pipeline. The analysis is solely based on the text provided. **3. Policy Overview:** This notification pertains to the implementation of *The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962*. The core objective, as derived from the text, is to facilitate the laying of pipelines for the transportation of petroleum and mineral resources by acquiring the Right of User on the required land. **4. Background and Rationale:** The provided text indicates this is not a new policy, but rather an action taken under an existing act. The rationale behind *this specific notification* is to enable the construction of the Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline. This pipeline is crucial for transporting liquid ethane from RIL's Dahej Manufacturing Division in Gujarat to its Nagothane Manufacturing Division in Maharashtra. The notification follows a prior declaration of intent (S.O. 4766(E), dated 29.10.2021) and a period for public feedback, during which no objections were received. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification is not an amendment, but a declaration and directive under the existing act. The key provisions are: * **Declaration of Acquisition:** The Government of India formally declares the acquisition of the Right of User in the land specified in the attached schedule for laying the pipeline. The schedule lists specific survey numbers and areas in Raigad District, Maharashtra (Devulwadi village) where the ROU is acquired. * **Vesting of Right of User:** The notification directs that the Right of User, instead of vesting in the Government of India, will vest directly in Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited (REPL) from the date of the notification's publication. This vesting is "free from all encumbrances," meaning REPL receives the right without any existing claims or liabilities attached to the land. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the primary stakeholders directly affected by this notification are: * **Ms Reliance Ethane Pipelines Limited (REPL):** As the entity receiving the Right of User, REPL is directly responsible for the pipeline construction and operation. * **Ms Reliance Industries Limited (RIL):** As the beneficiary of the pipeline, RIL's manufacturing operations in Gujarat and Maharashtra are directly impacted. * **Landowners in Devulwadi Village, Raigad District:** While the notification aims to acquire *Right of User*, landowners are still affected by the use of their land for the pipeline project. * **Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry:** As this notification facilitates the transport of ethane, those involved in the petroleum and natural gas industry, in general, may be indirectly affected. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency:** While the notification is issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the *Competent Authority* mentioned in the text likely plays a role in assessing the project and submitting a report to the Government. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification refers to a prior notification (S.O. 4766(E), dated 29.10.2021) declaring the intention to acquire the ROU and a period for public comment. This suggests a process involving initial notification, public feedback, assessment by a competent authority, and finally, the declaration of acquisition. The vesting of the ROU in REPL takes effect immediately upon publication of this notification. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of this notification is to facilitate the timely construction of the Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline. By vesting the ROU directly with REPL, the government aims to expedite the project by eliminating potential delays associated with government ownership of the ROU. This will likely improve the efficiency of ethane transportation between RIL's manufacturing divisions, supporting their operations and potentially impacting the broader petrochemical industry. **9. Conclusion:** The Government of India's notification is a critical step in enabling the construction of the Dahej-Nagothane Ethane pipeline. It demonstrates the government's commitment to facilitating infrastructure development for the petroleum and natural gas sector by streamlining the ROU acquisition process and directly vesting the right with the project implementing agency, REPL. This action is expected to have a positive impact on the transportation of ethane and RIL's operations, contributing to the growth and efficiency of the petrochemical industry.

Key Entities Referenced