Central Government Acquires Right of User for LPG Pipeline in Andhra Pradesh

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued Notification S.O. 3995(E) on September 24, 2021, formally acquiring the right of user in specific land parcels located in Ananthapuramu district, Andhra Pradesh. This notification, published in the Extraordinary Gazette of India on September 28, 2021, marks a crucial step in the development of the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pipeline project connecting Hassan in Karnataka to Cherlapalli in Telangana. The issuance of this notification followed an earlier declaration of intent by the Central Government, made through S.O. No. 2660(E) and S.O. No. 2661(E) dated June 18, 2021, under Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 (referred to as the PMP Act). The previous notification, published on July 1, 2021, had outlined the Central Government's intention to acquire the right of user for the pipeline, with copies made available to the public until July 27, 2021. Subsequently, the competent authority, as mandated by Sub-section (1) of Section 6 of the PMP Act, submitted its report to the Central Government. Upon reviewing this report and being satisfied of the necessity of the land for the pipeline, the Central Government proceeded with the formal acquisition.

The primary objective of this notification is to facilitate the unhindered laying of the LPG pipeline, a vital energy infrastructure project. The PMP Act, 1962, provides the statutory framework for the acquisition of right of user in land for petroleum and mineral pipelines, ensuring that such critical projects can proceed while also addressing the rights of affected landowners. This notification addresses the procedural requirement of formally declaring the acquisition after the initial intention and subsequent report by the competent authority. The legislation provided: “...the Central Government hereby declares that the Right of User in the land specified in the Schedule appended to this notification is hereby acquired for laying the pipeline; And further... directs that the Right of User in the said land for laying the pipeline shall... vest on the date of publication of the declaration, in Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), free from all encumbrances.” This means that the right to use the land for the pipeline now vests directly with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), the entity responsible for the project, rather than remaining with the Central Government. This vesting occurs immediately upon the publication of the declaration, ensuring that HPCL can proceed with the pipeline construction without further encumbrances on the acquired right of user. A key provision of the notification clarifies that HPCL will bear exclusive liability for any compensation due to affected parties, as per Section 10 of the PMP Act. Furthermore, Section 13 of the PMP Act ensures that no suit, claim, or legal proceeding can be initiated against the Central Government, the Competent Authority, any State Government, or the Corporation for matters related to the pipeline, thereby streamlining the legal process and protecting governmental entities involved in the project. The notification lists specific survey numbers across various villages and mandals within Ananthapuramu district, detailing the precise land parcels where the right of user has been acquired.

Keywords: Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline Act, 1962, Right of User, LPG pipeline, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, HPCL, Andhra Pradesh, Ananthapuramu, land acquisition, energy infrastructure, Central Government.

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh District: Ananthapuramu