The Centre for Science and Environment's Green Rating Project team has rated the cement industry. Its findings uncovered some surprises. The traditional wisdom was that the industry had to be a big-time polluter. But what emerged was a more nuanced picture. The cement industry scored better than any other rated by the project on many counts, but it bombed on others. Where economic logic met environmental objectives, the industry did well -- for instance, energy-use and utilisation of waste. But where investments did not yield short-term gains, the industry failed to meet expectations: in mine management, emission control and, most importantly, regenerating livelihoods. Societally, the industry is dismal, especially because the biggest players are not going out of their way to set standards. What follows is the green project's cement take