Publication of Notification in the Extra Ordinary Gazette of India under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (ARUL) Act, 1962 for Dhamra Haldia Pipeline (DHPL) of M/s. GAIL (India) Limited.

## Policy Analysis Report: Acquisition of Right of User for Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a new policy notification (S.O. 5413(E)) issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, on December 21, 2021. The core purpose of this policy is to declare the government's intention to acquire the Right of User (RoU) in land for the transportation of natural gas through the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline (DHPL) in Odisha. This pipeline is an expansion of the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline. The key finding is the intent to facilitate pipeline construction by enabling land acquisition, subject to objections from interested parties. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide information and analysis regarding the policy notification S.O. 5413(E) concerning the acquisition of Right of User (RoU) for the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline, based solely on the provided policy text. **3. Policy Overview:** * This is a *New Policy*. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, based on the text, is to declare the Government of India's intention to acquire the Right of User in land necessary for laying the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline (DHPL) in the State of Odisha. This facilitates the transportation of natural gas. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **New Policy Rationale:** The policy addresses the need for infrastructure development in the natural gas sector. The construction of the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline, as an expansion of the existing Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, requires access to land. The policy facilitates this by initiating the process of acquiring the Right of User (RoU) over the land needed for the pipeline. The policy states that such acquisition is necessary in the public interest. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** * **New Policy:** This policy notification declares the government's intention to acquire the Right of User (RoU) in the land specified in the attached schedule for laying the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline. It invokes the powers conferred by subsection 1 of section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. A key provision is the allowance for individuals with an interest in the land to object in writing to the acquisition within twenty-one days of the notification being made available to the general public. Objections must be submitted to the Competent Authority Odisha, GAIL India Limited, at the provided address. The policy also includes a land schedule specifying survey numbers and land areas (in hectares and square meters) in the Bhadrak district (Basudebpur Tahasil, Sungura & Suan Villages) of Odisha. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the directly affected target audience and stakeholders are: * Landowners in the specified areas (Sungura and Suan villages, Basudebpur Tahasil, Bhadrak District, Odisha) whose land falls under the survey numbers listed in the schedule. * GAIL India Limited, the company responsible for laying the pipeline. * Competent Authority Odisha, GAIL India Limited, who will receive objections. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the issuing authority. GAIL India Limited is responsible for laying the pipeline and presumably facilitating the land acquisition process. A "Competent Authority Odisha, GAIL India Limited" will receive objections. * **Timelines/Procedures:** Interested parties have 21 days from the date the notification is made available to the public to submit written objections. The process follows the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * **New Policy Outcomes:** The intended outcome is the successful acquisition of the Right of User (RoU) over the necessary land, enabling the construction of the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline. This is expected to facilitate the transportation of natural gas, contributing to the development of the gas infrastructure in the region. Potential impacts for landowners include compensation for the use of their land, but also possible disruption during the construction phase. **9. Conclusion:** The policy notification S.O. 5413(E) marks a crucial step in the development of the Dhamra-Haldia Pipeline. By declaring the government's intention to acquire the Right of User over land, it sets the stage for pipeline construction. The policy is significant for both GAIL India Limited and landowners in the affected areas, establishing a framework for land acquisition and grievance redressal as per the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act. The successful implementation of this policy is vital for expanding natural gas infrastructure and promoting economic development in the region.

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