Publication of notification in the Extraordinary Gazette of India under Section 6(1) of the PMP Act 1962 relating to land schedule in respect of Muzaffarpur Motihari LPG Pipeline to be laid by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) for acquisition of ROU in the State of Bihar Anchal Madhuban Distt East Champaran

## Policy Analysis Report: Acquisition of Right of User for Muzaffarpur-Motihari Pipeline Project (Amendment) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India, which constitutes an amendment to a previous notification (S.O. No. 3662E dated August 31, 2021). This amendment pertains to the acquisition of the right of user in specific land in Block Madhuban, District East Champaran, Bihar, for the purpose of laying the Augmentation of Muzaffarpur-Motihari Pipeline Project by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). The key finding is that the amendment designates IOCL as the entity in which the right of user is vested, free from all encumbrances, instead of the Central Government. This report provides an overview of the amendment, its background, key provisions, affected parties, inferred implementation aspects, and expected outcomes. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a concise analysis of the provided Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas notification, focusing on its implications for the affected industry and stakeholders. The analysis is based solely on the information presented in the provided text and aims to elucidate the purpose and effect of this specific amendment. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy Being Amended:** The notification amends the Government of India, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas notification S.O. No. 3662E dated the 31st August, 2021. * **Core Objective(s) (as inferred from text):** The core objective, gleaned from the amendment text, is to facilitate the laying of the Augmentation of Muzaffarpur-Motihari Pipeline Project for the transportation of LPG Products in Block Madhuban, District East Champaran, Bihar. The project is being undertaken by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). **4. Background and Rationale:** The original notification likely initiated the process of acquiring the right of user for the pipeline project. This amendment appears to address the vesting of those rights. The rationale for this specific amendment, as inferred from the text, is to transfer the right of user directly to Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to expedite the pipeline construction and operation, streamlining the process by removing the intermediate step of vesting the right in the Central Government first. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification constitutes an amendment specifically concerning the *vesting* of the right of user: * **Specific part of the original policy being changed:** The amendment focuses on subsection 4 of section 6 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962. This likely originally stipulated that the right of user would vest in the Central Government. * **New Rule/Provision:** The Central Government directs that the right of user in the specified land for laying the pipeline shall vest in Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), free from all encumbrances, upon the publication date of this declaration. * **Difference/Effect of the Change:** The original process likely involved the right of user vesting in the Central Government first. This amendment streamlines the process by directly vesting the right of user in IOCL. This will likely expedite the project by granting IOCL immediate control over the land for pipeline construction, avoiding potential delays associated with transferring the right from the Central Government to IOCL. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** Based on the text, the directly affected parties include: * **Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL):** As the entity in whom the right of user is vested, IOCL is a primary stakeholder. * **Landowners in Block Madhuban, District East Champaran, Bihar:** Specifically, those whose land falls within the survey area defined in the schedule (Koilhara 283, Thana No. 88). They are affected by the acquisition of right of user on their land. * **Industry Related to LPG Products:** The pipeline project is for the transportation of LPG Products. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** * **Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas:** Issued the notification. * **Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL):** Responsible for laying the pipeline. * **Shri Arun Kumar Jha, Competent Authority Patna Bihar:** Submitted a report to the Central Government under subsection 1 of section 6 of the said Act. * **Timelines/Procedures:** * Copies of the Gazette notification were made available to the concerned land owners by 3 October, 2021. * The right of user vests in IOCL on the date of publication of the declaration (July 20, 2022). **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of this amendment is to expedite the laying of the Muzaffarpur-Motihari pipeline by: * **Streamlining the acquisition process:** Directly vesting the right of user in IOCL avoids delays associated with transferring the right from the Central Government. * **Facilitating project progress:** IOCL can immediately proceed with construction activities on the acquired land. * **Improved efficiency in LPG Transportation:** The pipeline will contribute to more efficient and reliable transportation of LPG products in the region. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the notification regarding the acquisition of the right of user for the Muzaffarpur-Motihari Pipeline Project is a significant step toward facilitating the project's timely completion. By directly vesting the right of user in IOCL, the amendment streamlines the acquisition process, removes potential bureaucratic hurdles, and allows for the expedited construction of this important infrastructure project. This amendment signifies a proactive approach to improving the efficiency of LPG transportation and ensuring energy security in the region.

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