Central Government Notifies Intent to Acquire Right of User for Hassan-Cherlapalli LPG Pipeline

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued Notification S.O. 1887(E) on April 19, 2022, which was subsequently published in the Gazette of India on April 21, 2022. This notification signifies the Central Government's formal declaration of its intention to acquire the right of user in specific land parcels. The primary reason for this action, as stated in the notification, is the public interest requirement for the transportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) through a pipeline. This pipeline is slated to be laid by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, connecting Hassan in Karnataka to Cherlapalli in Telangana. The notification specifically details the necessity to acquire the right of user in land located within Atmakur Mandal of Ananthapuramu District in Andhra Pradesh, which is crucial for the proposed pipeline's route. 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 declaration initiates a formal process under the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in land) Act, 1962. Any individual with an interest in the land described in the annexed schedule is afforded a period of twenty-one days from the date of public availability of the notification to submit written objections regarding the acquisition of the right of user or the laying of the pipeline. These objections are to be addressed to Shri K. Madhusudhana Rao, the Competent Authority Deputy Collector for the Hassan-Cherlapalli LPG Pipeline Project, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, located in Ananthapuramu. The schedule appended to the notification meticulously lists the survey numbers, acres, and cents of the land parcels affected in Atmakur Mandal.

The legislative intent behind this notification is to facilitate the development of essential energy infrastructure, specifically ensuring the efficient and safe transportation of LPG across states. This action is rooted in the policy rationale that such pipelines are vital for meeting the nation's energy demands and distributing critical resources. The Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in land) Act, 1962, provides the statutory framework for such acquisitions, enabling the government to secure necessary land rights for pipeline projects while also safeguarding the interests of affected landowners. This particular notification addresses the practical requirement of obtaining specific land access for the Hassan-Cherlapalli LPG pipeline, a project deemed necessary for public interest. It establishes a clear mechanism for the acquisition of a 'right of user' (a legal right to use another's property for a specific purpose, without owning it outright), rather than full ownership, thereby minimizing the impact on landowners. The notification introduces a specific obligation for interested persons to raise objections within a defined statutory timeline, ensuring transparency and due process. The designation of a Competent Authority further streamlines the enforcement mechanism for addressing these objections and overseeing the acquisition process.

Keywords: LPG pipeline, Right of User, Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act, Ananthapuramu, Atmakur, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, infrastructure, land acquisition, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
Geo Tags: India, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana
District: Ananthapuramu