Gas Act, 1976

PART III

Deviations, Acquisition Orders and Compensation

Deviations.

31.—(1) Where deviation limits are confirmed by the Minister pursuant to Article 9 of the Second Schedule to this Act, in providing the relevant pipeline it shall be lawful for the Board in any place situate within those deviation limits, as so confirmed, without notice,

(a) to construct the pipeline, or

(b) to do anything reasonably necessary for or ancillary or incidental to such construction (whether or not the relevant pipeline is being constructed within such deviation limits) and when constructed to maintain, repair or replace such pipeline and do anything reasonably necessary for or ancillary or incidental to such maintaining, repairing or replacing;

provided that either the owner of the land in, on or over which the pipeline is constructed or the thing is done has been served with a notice under Article 3 (2) of the said Second Schedule, or a permission under this section has been obtained by the Board which relates to the land.

(2) In case the Board proposes to exercise its powers under subsection (1) of this section as regards land and the owner thereof has not been served with a notice under Article 3 (2) of the Second Schedule to this Act, the Board may apply in writing to the Minister for a permission under this section and in case the name and address of the person who is such owner can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry, the Board shall serve on the person a notice stating—

(a) that the Board has made an application to the Minister to exercise its powers under subsection (1) of this section as regards the land,

(b) that objections and representations can be made to the Minister regarding the proposal (which representations and objections are hereby authorised to be made),

(c) that such objections or representations may be made within the period of three weeks commencing on the date of the notice,

(d) that copies of the relevant documents deposited pursuant to the said Second Schedule with the Minister may be inspected at any reasonable hour during the said period, and

(e) the place or places at which such documents may be so inspected.

(3) Where an application for a permission is made under this section to the Minister and the Minister is of opinion, having regard to any representations and any objection duly made under this section and not withdrawn, that the application should be allowed, and in case a notice under subsection (2) of this section has not been served, that the name and address of the person who is the owner of the land concerned cannot be ascertained by the Board by reasonable inquiry, the Minister may grant a permission under this section and the permission shall operate—

(a) to permit the Board without notice—

(i) to construct a pipeline,

(ii) to do anything reasonably necessary for or ancillary or incidental to such construction (whether or not the relevant pipeline is being constructed in, on or over such land),

and when constructed to maintain, repair or replace such pipeline and to do anything reasonably necessary for or ancillary or incidental to such maintaining, repairing or replacing in, on or over the land to which the application relates, and

(b) if need be, to grant to the Board for such pipeline a wayleave in, on or over such land.

(4) As regards an application for a permission under this section, a person on whom a notice is served under this section may at any reasonable hour during the period specified in the notice inspect, or cause to be inspected on his behalf, any document which is a document referred to in subsection (2) (d) of this section.