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).

## Policy Analysis Report: Acquisition of Right of User for Natural Gas Pipeline in Assam **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, regarding the acquisition of the Right of User (RoU) for land required for the Guwahati Numaligarh GNPL Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project in Assam. The notification declares the government's intention to acquire RoU to facilitate the laying of a natural gas pipeline by Ms Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited. Key findings include the specific districts and villages affected, the process for lodging objections, and the legal basis for the acquisition. This report informs stakeholders, particularly landowners and related industries, about their rights and the implications of this policy. This is a new policy as it establishes the intention to acquire land rights under existing legislation for a specific project. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an analysis of a government notification concerning the acquisition of the Right of User (RoU) for land in Assam, as published in the Gazette of India. The purpose of this report is to inform affected parties and related industry stakeholders about the key aspects of this notification, focusing on its objectives, provisions, and potential impact, based solely on the information provided in the document. **3. Policy Overview:** * Core Objective(s) as stated or inferred from the provided text: The core objective is to acquire the Right of User (RoU) for land in specified districts of Assam to facilitate the construction of the Guwahati Numaligarh GNPL Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project. This is intended to enable the transportation of natural gas. **4. Background and Rationale:** * Briefly explain the likely problem/issue the policy addresses, inferring from the text: Based on the text, the policy addresses the need to secure land rights for the construction of a natural gas pipeline. The underlying issue is that developing energy infrastructure, like pipelines, requires access to land, which may involve private ownership. This policy provides a legal mechanism for acquiring the necessary rights to enable the project's execution. The text states this acquisition is in "public interest". **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 Intent:** The Government of India declares its intention to acquire the Right of User (RoU) in the land described in the schedule for laying the natural gas pipeline. * **Legal Basis:** The notification is issued under subsection 1 of section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. * **Affected Areas:** The notification specifies the districts (Biswanath, Golaghat, and Jorhat), circles, mouzas, villages, and dag numbers (land parcel identifiers), along with the area (in Hectare, Are, and Square Metre) affected. * **Right to Object:** Individuals with an interest in the land have the right to object in writing to the acquisition within twenty-one days from the date the notification is made available to the public. * **Competent Authority:** Objections must be submitted to the Competent Authority, Ms Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited, State of Assam. * **Project Purpose:** The acquired RoU is explicitly for the transportation of natural gas through the Guwahati Numaligarh GNPL Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the provided text, the target audience and stakeholders include: * **Landowners:** Individuals or entities owning land in the specified districts, circles, mouzas, and villages listed in the schedule. These landowners are directly affected by the potential acquisition of RoU. * **Ms Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited:** The company responsible for laying the pipeline and designated as the Competent Authority for receiving objections. * **Government of India (Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas):** The issuing authority responsible for overseeing the project and ensuring it aligns with public interest. * **General Public in Assam:** Potentially affected by the construction and operation of the pipeline, and therefore having an indirect stake in the policy. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** Based on the text, the following can be inferred about implementation: * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** * Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (issuing authority). * Ms Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (pipeline construction and competent authority for objections). * **Timelines/Procedures:** * Landowners have 21 days from the date the notification is made public to submit objections. * The acquisition process follows the procedures outlined in the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. * **Further actions needed** The government must make the notification available to the general public, triggering the 21-day objection period. Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited must be prepared to receive and consider these objections. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** What are the likely intended outcomes based on the policy's stated provisions in the text? * **Facilitation of Pipeline Construction:** The primary intended outcome is to secure the necessary RoU to enable the construction of the Guwahati Numaligarh GNPL Section of the North East Natural Gas Pipeline Grid Project. * **Increased Natural Gas Transportation:** Successful acquisition of RoU will allow for the transportation of natural gas through the pipeline, contributing to energy infrastructure development in the region. * **Potential Economic Benefits:** The pipeline project may lead to economic benefits through job creation during construction and improved access to energy resources. **9. Conclusion:** The notification analyzed in this report signifies the Government of India's intention to acquire RoU for land in Assam to facilitate the construction of a natural gas pipeline by Ms Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited. The policy adheres to the provisions of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, and provides a mechanism for affected landowners to raise objections. Successful implementation of this policy is crucial for the development of energy infrastructure in the North East region of India. The affected industry should pay close attention to the specified areas and timelines for objections.

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