Chapter VIII POWER OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

(1) The Central Government may, from time to time, by writing issue to the Board such directions as it may think necessary in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order. (2) Without prejudice to the foregoing provision, the Central Government may, if it finds necessary or expedient so to do in public interest or for maintaining or increasing supplies of petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas or all or any of them or for securing their equitable distribution and ensuring adequate availability, issue policy directives to the Board in writing and such policy directives shall be binding upon the Board: Provided that no such directive shall relate to any day-to-day affairs of the Board: Provided further that the Board shall, as far as practicable, be given an opportunity of expressing its views before any directive is issued under this sub-section. (3) The decision of the Central Government whether a question is one of policy or not shall be final.

(1) In the event of war or natural calamity or such other similar circumstances leading to disruption of supply of petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas, the Central Government may, for ensuring the continuous supply of petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas, by notification, either take over the control and management of any storage site, facilities and business premises of any entity and retail outlets or suspend its operations or entrust, to any agency of the Central or State Government for such time and manage it in such manner, as may be specified in that notification: Provided that the affected entities shall be given an opportunity of being heard before issuing orders to take over the control and management of retail outlets and other business premises: Provided further that in case of any urgency or in cases where the circumstances do not permit serving of notice for want of sufficient time or otherwise upon the entity against whom the order is directed, the opportunity of hearing may be dispensed with in public interest in order to maintain the uninterrupted supply of petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas for a specified period. (2) The collector of the revenue district in which the property referred to in the notification issued under sub-section (1) is situated shall determine the amount of compensation payable for taking over of the property. (3) The form and manner in which an application for claiming compensation under this section shall be made, the procedure for determining the compensation and the time within which such compensation shall be payable, shall be such as may be prescribed.