Publication of Notification in the Extra Ordinary Gazette of India under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (ARUL) Act, 1962 for North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project of M/s. Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL).

## Report on Notification Regarding Right of User for Natural Gas Pipeline in Mizoram **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, published on May 26, 2022. The notification concerns the acquisition of the Right of User (RoU) in land for laying a natural gas pipeline in the State of Mizoram, specifically the Panisagar Aizawl Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project. The core purpose is to facilitate the transportation of natural gas through the mentioned pipeline. Key findings indicate that Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited is responsible for laying the pipeline, and affected landowners have a limited timeframe to raise objections. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a detailed overview of a notification (S.O. 2389(E)) issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, based solely on the text provided. The report focuses on understanding the notification's purpose, key provisions, and potential implications for stakeholders. **3. Policy Overview:** This is a *new* policy/notification concerning the acquisition of Right of User. * **Core Objective(s):** As inferred from the provided text, the core objective of this notification is to enable the laying of a natural gas pipeline by acquiring the Right of User in land necessary for the Panisagar Aizawl Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project in Mizoram. The underlying goal is to facilitate the transportation of natural gas. **4. Background and Rationale:** As a new policy, the likely problem the notification addresses is the need for a clear legal framework to acquire the necessary land rights to construct the natural gas pipeline. The text explicitly states that the Government of India deems it "necessary in public interest" to transport natural gas via this pipeline and to acquire the Right of User for this purpose. Without this notification, acquiring the necessary land access for construction and operation would be difficult and potentially subject to legal challenges. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This is a New Policy, therefore detailing the main components: * **Declaration of Intent:** The notification declares the Government of India's intention to acquire the Right of User in the land specified in the attached schedule. This is a crucial first step in the acquisition process. * **Legal Basis:** The notification is issued under the authority of subsection 1 of section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 (50 of 1962). This establishes the legal foundation for the government's actions. * **Opportunity for Objections:** The notification grants individuals interested in the specified land a window of twenty-one (21) days to object in writing to the acquisition of the RoU. This ensures due process and allows for concerns to be raised. * **Identification of Competent Authority:** The notification identifies Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited, State of Mizoram, as the "Competent Authority" to whom objections should be addressed. * **Detailed Land Schedule:** The notification includes a schedule listing the specific land parcels (District: Aizawl, State : Mizoram) affected by the acquisition. This table includes the Block/Tehsil, Village, Survey Numbers, and area (in Square Metre, Hectare and Are). **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected target audience and stakeholders include: * Landowners whose property falls within the specified areas in the Schedule (Aizawl district, Mizoram). * Residents of the villages (Sihhmui, Sakawrtuichhan, Luangmual) listed in the Schedule. * Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited, the entity responsible for laying the pipeline. * The Competent Authority, Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited, State of Mizoram, responsible for addressing objections. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is ultimately responsible for issuing the notification. Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited is responsible for laying the pipeline and also serves as the Competent Authority for receiving objections. * **Timelines and Procedures:** The notification establishes a 21-day window for landowners to raise objections after the notification is made available to the general public. After this period, it is inferred that the acquisition process will proceed. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of this notification is to facilitate the smooth acquisition of the Right of User in the specified land, enabling the construction of the natural gas pipeline. Successful implementation will contribute to the development of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project and improve natural gas transportation infrastructure in the region. The impact on landowners will be the granting of rights to Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited for laying the pipeline. Compensation for RoU and potential disruptions during construction will be determined separately, and are not contained in the policy text. **9. Conclusion:** The notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is a crucial step in enabling the construction of the Panisagar Aizawl Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project. By establishing the legal basis for acquiring the Right of User in land and providing a mechanism for addressing landowner concerns, the notification aims to facilitate the efficient and timely implementation of this important infrastructure project. The notification's significance lies in its role in supporting the development of natural gas transportation infrastructure in the North East region of India.

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