Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the National Air Quality Index so as to monitor pollution levels in 10 major cities.
"The world thinks that India is not bothered about the environment. We have had a culture where environment has been equal to divine," Modi said after launching the index at a two-day conference of Environment Ministers of all states in the national capital.
He added "No one can question us on our intentions of protecting to environment. India should have taken the lead on climate change."
Claiming that the world does not know how to solve climate problem and global warming, the prime minister said "India has a long and well-established tradition of recycling in every household. India has to take the lead in thinking of ways of protecting the environment."
Modi advocated that Indians must think of traditional methods to tackle environmental issues. "There can be green solutions in our age-old traditions," he said.