Central Government Declares Intention to Acquire Right of User for JHBDPL Spur Pipeline in West Bengal

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a formal notification on May 14, 2025, regarding the expansion of energy infrastructure in Eastern India. This statutory instrument, published in the Gazette of India on May 20, 2025, announced the Central Government’s intention to acquire the Right of User (a legal provision allowing the laying of pipelines under land while the surface ownership remains with the original owner) for the Jagadishpur Haldia Bokaro Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) spur pipeline project. The notification was issued under the authority of the [Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962](The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a formal notification on May 14, 2025, regarding the expansion of energy infrastructure in Eastern India. This statutory instrument, published in the Gazette of India on May 20, 2025, announced the Central Government’s intention to acquire the Right of User (a legal provision allowing the laying of pipelines under land while the surface ownership remains with the original owner) for the Jagadishpur Haldia Bokaro Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) spur pipeline project. The notification was issued under the authority of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, specifically invoking the powers conferred by Section 3(1) of the said Act. The project, which is being executed by GAIL (India) Limited, focused on a specific segment of the pipeline network located in the State of West Bengal. The legislation provided: “Whereas it appears to Government of India that it is necessary in public interest that for transportation of natural gas through Jagadishpur Haldia Bokaro Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) spur pipeline, in the State of West Bengal, a pipeline should be laid by GAIL (India) Limited; And, whereas it appears to Government of India that for the purpose of laying the said pipeline, it is necessary to acquire the Right of User in the land under which the said pipeline is proposed to be laid and which is described in the Schedule annexed to this notification; Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by sub section (1) of Section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, (50 of 1962) Government of India hereby declares its intention to acquire the Right of User therein;” The primary legislative intent behind this notification was to facilitate the efficient transportation of natural gas, which the government deemed a matter of significant public interest. By utilizing the Right of User framework, the government sought to bridge the statutory gap between the necessity for national energy security and the rights of individual landowners. The notification specifically identified land in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, within the Sutahata-2 block and Sovarampur mauza. The schedule annexed to the notification detailed a specific land parcel under Survey No. 1312, measuring approximately 76 square meters, required for the 3B section of the spur pipeline project. Under the enforcement mechanism established by the 1962 Act, the government provided a statutory window for transparency and grievance redressal. Any person with an interest in the land described in the schedule was permitted to submit written objections to the acquisition of the Right of User. The statutory timeline for such objections was set at twenty-one days from the date on which the notification was made available to the general public. These objections were required to be submitted to the Competent Authority at GAIL (India) Limited. This procedure ensured that while the state proceeded with essential infrastructure development, the legal rights of affected parties to contest the acquisition were preserved. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.), specifically invoking the powers conferred by Section 3(1) of the said Act. The project, which is being executed by GAIL (India) Limited, focused on a specific segment of the pipeline network located in the State of West Bengal.

The legislation provided: “Whereas it appears to Government of India that it is necessary in public interest that for transportation of natural gas through Jagadishpur Haldia Bokaro Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) spur pipeline, in the State of West Bengal, a pipeline should be laid by GAIL (India) Limited; And, whereas it appears to Government of India that for the purpose of laying the said pipeline, it is necessary to acquire the Right of User in the land under which the said pipeline is proposed to be laid and which is described in the Schedule annexed to this notification; Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by sub section (1) of Section 3 of the [Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962](The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a formal notification on May 14, 2025, regarding the expansion of energy infrastructure in Eastern India. This statutory instrument, published in the Gazette of India on May 20, 2025, announced the Central Government’s intention to acquire the Right of User (a legal provision allowing the laying of pipelines under land while the surface ownership remains with the original owner) for the Jagadishpur Haldia Bokaro Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) spur pipeline project. The notification was issued under the authority of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, specifically invoking the powers conferred by Section 3(1) of the said Act. The project, which is being executed by GAIL (India) Limited, focused on a specific segment of the pipeline network located in the State of West Bengal. The legislation provided: “Whereas it appears to Government of India that it is necessary in public interest that for transportation of natural gas through Jagadishpur Haldia Bokaro Dhamra Pipeline (JHBDPL) spur pipeline, in the State of West Bengal, a pipeline should be laid by GAIL (India) Limited; And, whereas it appears to Government of India that for the purpose of laying the said pipeline, it is necessary to acquire the Right of User in the land under which the said pipeline is proposed to be laid and which is described in the Schedule annexed to this notification; Now, therefore, in exercise of powers conferred by sub section (1) of Section 3 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, (50 of 1962) Government of India hereby declares its intention to acquire the Right of User therein;” The primary legislative intent behind this notification was to facilitate the efficient transportation of natural gas, which the government deemed a matter of significant public interest. By utilizing the Right of User framework, the government sought to bridge the statutory gap between the necessity for national energy security and the rights of individual landowners. The notification specifically identified land in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, within the Sutahata-2 block and Sovarampur mauza. The schedule annexed to the notification detailed a specific land parcel under Survey No. 1312, measuring approximately 76 square meters, required for the 3B section of the spur pipeline project. Under the enforcement mechanism established by the 1962 Act, the government provided a statutory window for transparency and grievance redressal. Any person with an interest in the land described in the schedule was permitted to submit written objections to the acquisition of the Right of User. The statutory timeline for such objections was set at twenty-one days from the date on which the notification was made available to the general public. These objections were required to be submitted to the Competent Authority at GAIL (India) Limited. This procedure ensured that while the state proceeded with essential infrastructure development, the legal rights of affected parties to contest the acquisition were preserved. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.), (50 of 1962) Government of India hereby declares its intention to acquire the Right of User therein;”

The primary legislative intent behind this notification was to facilitate the efficient transportation of natural gas, which the government deemed a matter of significant public interest. By utilizing the Right of User framework, the government sought to bridge the statutory gap between the necessity for national energy security and the rights of individual landowners. The notification specifically identified land in the Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal, within the Sutahata-2 block and Sovarampur mauza. The schedule annexed to the notification detailed a specific land parcel under Survey No. 1312, measuring approximately 76 square meters, required for the 3B section of the spur pipeline project.

Under the enforcement mechanism established by the 1962 Act, the government provided a statutory window for transparency and grievance redressal. Any person with an interest in the land described in the schedule was permitted to submit written objections to the acquisition of the Right of User. The statutory timeline for such objections was set at twenty-one days from the date on which the notification was made available to the general public. These objections were required to be submitted to the Competent Authority at GAIL (India) Limited. This procedure ensured that while the state proceeded with essential infrastructure development, the legal rights of affected parties to contest the acquisition were preserved. The notification came into force immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette.

Keywords: GAIL, JHBDPL Pipeline, Right of User, Petroleum Act 1962, West Bengal Pipeline, Natural Gas Infrastructure, Ministry of Petroleum

Geo Tags: India, West Bengal
District: Purba Medinipur