Publication of Notification in the Extra Ordinary Gazette of India under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (ARUL) Act, 1962 for Jagdishpur Haldia and Bokaro Dhamra Gas Pipeline (JHBDPL) and Spur Pipeline of GAIL (India) Limited.

## Policy Analysis Report: Acquisition of Right of User for Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline Project (West Bengal) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, regarding the acquisition of the Right of User (RoU) in land for the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) project in West Bengal. The notification declares the RoU acquired for laying the pipeline and directs that the RoU vests in GAIL India Limited, free from all encumbrances. This report provides an overview of the policy, its background, key provisions, affected stakeholders, implementation aspects, and expected outcomes, based solely on the information provided in the notification text. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative analysis of a Government of India notification concerning the acquisition of the Right of User (RoU) in land for the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) project. The analysis is based exclusively on the text of the provided notification. The report aims to provide affected stakeholders with a concise understanding of the notification's implications. **3. Policy Overview:** This notification concerns land acquisition under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. It is related to the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline project, specifically the Dobhi-Haldia section in West Bengal. * **Core Objective(s):** The primary objective, as inferred from the text, is to acquire the Right of User in land for laying a natural gas pipeline related to the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline project. A secondary objective is to vest this right in GAIL India Limited. **4. Background and Rationale:** * **Rationale:** The policy addresses the need to lay a natural gas pipeline for transportation of natural gas through the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline project. The acquisition of land rights is essential for enabling the construction and operation of this pipeline. The text indicates that prior notifications and considerations of public objections have already taken place, suggesting this notification is a formal declaration following those processes. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This is essentially a new directive built on previous actions; Therefore: * The notification declares that the Right of User in the land specified in the schedule is acquired for laying the pipeline. * It directs that the Right of User in the land vests in GAIL India Limited, free from all encumbrances, on the date of publication of the declaration. * The schedule provides specific details of the land acquired, including the state (West Bengal), district (BANKURA), block (BARJORA), Mauza (PATHARJURI), and survey numbers. * It cites the relevant sections of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, under which the action is being taken. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the directly affected stakeholders include: * **Landowners:** Whose land falls within the specified areas in the schedule. * **GAIL India Limited:** As the entity in which the Right of User is vested. * **Government of India (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas):** The issuing authority and responsible for implementing the Act. * **Residents of West Bengal, specifically in the BANKURA district:** who may be impacted by the construction and operation of the pipeline. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** * Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is responsible for issuing the notification and overseeing the land acquisition process. * GAIL India Limited is responsible for laying the pipeline. * A "Competent Authority" is referenced as having considered and disposed of public objections and submitted a report to the Government of India. * **Timelines or procedures:** The notification indicates a timeline of prior actions, including the initial notification in November 2024, consideration of objections, and the submission of a report. The vesting of the Right of User in GAIL India Limited occurs on the date of publication of this notification (May 20, 2025). **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** * The likely intended outcomes include: * Facilitating the construction of the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra natural gas pipeline project. * Ensuring the secure and efficient transportation of natural gas. * Potentially improving energy access and infrastructure in the region. * Removing any legal impediments (encumbrances) to GAIL India Limited's use of the land for the pipeline. **9. Conclusion:** The notification analyzed in this report represents a crucial step in the implementation of the Jagdishpur-Haldia-Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline project. By declaring the acquisition of the Right of User in the specified land and vesting it in GAIL India Limited, the Government of India aims to facilitate the construction of this important infrastructure project. The impact of this notification will be felt by landowners, GAIL India Limited, and potentially the broader population of West Bengal through improved energy infrastructure. The notification relies on the powers granted by the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 and represents a continuation of a process including prior notifications and considerations of public input.

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