Central Government Acquires Right of User in Andhra Pradesh Land for Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline Project

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued Notification S.O. 4430(E) on September 21, 2022, formally acquiring the right of user in specific land parcels across Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts in Andhra Pradesh. This action facilitates the laying of a crucial pipeline for the transportation of petroleum products as part of the Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline Project, a significant infrastructure initiative undertaken by Indian Oil Corporation Limited. The notification, which came into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette on September 22, 2022, follows an earlier declaration of intent made through Notification S.O. No. 5185(E) dated December 10, 2021, published on December 13, 2021. That initial notification, issued under Sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962 (Act 50 of 1962), had outlined the Central Government's intention to acquire these rights for the pipeline stretching from Paradip in Odisha to Hyderabad in Telangana. The affected land is situated in various mandals, including Pendurthi, Sabbavaram, Anakapalli, Munagapaka, Achutapuram, S.Rayavaram, Nakkapalli, and Payakaraopeta in Visakhapatnam District, and Gantiyada Mandal in Vizianagaram District.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to ensure the smooth and efficient development of critical energy infrastructure. The Petroleum and Minerals pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, provides a statutory framework for the acquisition of a limited right over land for the purpose of laying pipelines, rather than outright acquisition of the land itself. This approach addresses the need for public utility projects while minimizing displacement and ensuring that landowners retain ownership of their property, subject to the pipeline easement. The Central Government, after reviewing a report submitted by the Competent Authority under Sub-section (1) of Section 6 of the said Act, determined that the land was indeed required for the pipeline. 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 of the said land for laying the pipeline shall... vest... in Indian Oil Corporation Limited, free from all encumbrances.” This declaration, made under Sub-section (1) of Section 6, and the subsequent direction under Sub-section (4) of Section 6, ensure that the right of user for the pipeline vests directly in Indian Oil Corporation Limited, free from any encumbrances, thereby streamlining the project's implementation. This mechanism is crucial for projects of national importance that require access to land for linear infrastructure like pipelines, which are vital for the transportation of essential commodities such as petroleum products across states.

Keywords: Petroleum and Natural Gas, Pipeline, Land Acquisition, Right of User, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline Project, Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana District: Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram