The protected areas mentioned in Table 2 are metropolitan areas which already have
high levels of air pollution or those in proximity to parks, forests, historical monuments or
health resorts. The individual Indian states are free to impose more stringent standards. In a
survey conducted in 1993, the Central Pollution Control Board of India found that 57 cement
plants are fully complying with the pollution standards. The Board is now considering fixing
emission levels for SOx and NOx and load based emission standards for cement plants.