Central Government Notifies Intent to Acquire Land Use Rights for Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline in Andhra Pradesh

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a Notification, S.O. 4430(E), on October 21, 2021, which was subsequently published in the Gazette of India on October 22, 2021. This notification formally declared the Central Government's intention to acquire the right of user in specific land parcels located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The action was undertaken to facilitate the laying of a pipeline for the Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline Project, a critical infrastructure initiative to be implemented by the Indian Oil Corporation Limited for the transportation of petroleum products. The notification specified that any person with an interest in the land described in the annexed schedule could submit objections in writing to Shri B. Venkatesu, the Competent Authority (Andhra Pradesh) for the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Pipelines Division), Paradip Hyderabad Pipeline Project, within twenty-one days from the date the notification's copies were made available to the general public. The identified land parcels are situated across various mandals and villages within the East Godavari district, including Dharmavaram, Kanupuru, Paidipalla Agraharam, Chamavaram, and Valluru.

The legislative intent behind this notification is rooted in the public interest, aiming to establish essential infrastructure for the efficient transportation of petroleum products. The Central Government deemed it necessary to acquire a 'right of user' in the identified land, which grants the right to use the land for the specific purpose of laying and maintaining the pipeline, rather than outright ownership. This measure is a direct 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). The 1962 Act provides a statutory framework for the acquisition of such limited rights over land for the construction, maintenance, and operation of petroleum and mineral pipelines, thereby addressing the logistical and legal challenges associated with large-scale energy infrastructure projects. The legislation provided: “Now, therefore, in exercise of the 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), the Central Government hereby declares its intention to acquire the right of user therein;” This mechanism ensures that vital national projects, like the Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline, can proceed while also providing a structured process for affected landowners to raise concerns. The notification, therefore, serves to bridge the gap between the strategic need for energy infrastructure development and the legal procedures for land access, ensuring that the project can advance in a legally compliant manner.

Keywords: Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act, 1962, Right of User, Paradip-Hyderabad Pipeline, Indian Oil Corporation, Andhra Pradesh, East Godavari, Petroleum Products, Infrastructure Project, Land Acquisition

Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh District: East Godavari