ominous promises that were being made by Prime Minister (pm) H D Deve Gowda, undermining the environment and people's rights, are now being kept one by one. The latest is an ordinance amending the National Highways Act, 1956, to facilitate speedier acquisition of land for national highways (nh).

According to the ordinance approved by the President on January 24, if the Centre "is satisfied that for a public purpose any land is required for the building, maintenance, management or operation of the national highway