The background and reasons for issuing these regulations are given in the explanatory memorandum at Annexure A.
7, Interpretation.—If any dispute arises with regard to the interpretation of any of the provisions of these regulations, the decision of the Board shall be final and binding.
[S-Admn/11/8/8007-Vol .I] AJAY TYAGI, Secy.
8 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [Part Il—Sec. 3(i)] Annexure A EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1, Clause (g) of Sub-section (2) of Section 61 of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006 empowers the Board to levy fee and other charges at such rates and in respect of such services as may be determined by regulations.
2. In view of the powers conferred under the Act, the Board has decided to levy fe fee and other charges for various services/activities as provided for under the Act and hence these regulations.
3. The levy of fee has been necessitated on account ofthe fact that scrutiny of such a large number of applications and the process associated with them pertaining to registration, authorization, complaints etc. by the Board puts pressure ‘on scarce regulatory resources available. 6 2° a7 gt
4. In addition to levy of fee, the Board is aiso required to determine through regulations the level of ‘other charges” that will be charged from entities for various functions to be discharged by under Section 11 of the Act. The Board is required to regulate the refiling, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, ‘marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas so as to protect the interests of the consumers and entities and to ensure uninterrupted and adequate supply of the specified items in all parts of the country and to promote competitive markets as well. The industry overseen by the Board is vast and varied in nature, covering as of now over 10,000 km of product pipelines, over 6000 km of natural gas pipelines and a number of city gas distribution networks, 19 refineries, 2 LNG tenrminals, over 300 storage terminals/depots, around 200 LPG bottling plants, around 32,000 retail outlets) over 100 aviation fueling stations, over 6000 kerosene dealers, over 9,000 LPG distributorships, etc. Considering the limitation on the available resources for the purpose of overseeing this industry, the Board has also decided to levy "other charges" for discharging its vast and varied functions.
Printed by the Manager; Govt. of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-t 10064 and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.