PM Modi slams developed nations for questioning India's green norms

New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the developed countries for questioning Indias credentials in curbing environmental pollution and said those who lecture the country refuse to provide nuclear fuel for clean energyAsserting that India was committed to promoting clean energy including nuclear he said India has not been sufficiently projected on the global arena and occasionally perceived to be a barrier in the global climate change fightThe Prime Minister also urged the world to ease restrictions for India on import of nuclear fuel so that India could also produce clean nuclear energy in a big wayPrime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the twoday Conference of State Environment and Forest Ministers in New Delhi on Monday Pic PTIIn an apparent reference to western countries which are not providing nuclear fuel to energystarved India Modi noted the country has taken several initiatives in clean energy sector including solar and windSee the irony The world gives lecture on climate but if we tell them that we want to move forward in nuclear energy as it is a good path for environment protection and when we ask them to provide necessary fuel for nuclear energy they refuse he saidModi who was addressing a conference of state environment ministers and officials launched the National Air Quality Index AQI in ten cities to monitor pollution levels This comes in the backdrop of criticism by western countries on the very unhealthy air quality in countrys metros including the national capital which has been termed as one of the most polluted cities prompting many embassies and other international establishments to install air purifiersThe Prime Minister observed that wrong impressions have been projected about India that it was neither concerned about climate nor environment Everybody has come to believe that the world is concerned about climate change but India is posing hurdlesWe have grown up in an culture where nature is worshipped like God and protecting nature is linked to humanity But due to some reasons maybe we have been ruled by others for centuries we are inhibited in expressing our point of view Till the time we gain confidence in ourselves we will not be able deal with the problem he saidModi said protecting environment is in our tradition and rather than following others India should lead the world in finding solutions to the issue of global warmingIndia should be a global leader in the fight against climate change Instead of being forced to follow parameters laid down by others India should lead the world in the fight against climate change he said The Prime Minister also stressed on bringing a change in the lifestyle which has contributed to environmental damageIt should not be that we follow the world follow the guidelines set by themthe truth is that we have a legacy of thousands of years in this field and we can lead the world and we can guide the world India can show the way to the world out of this crisis Modi saidSome people think development and environment are opposite This thought is wrong he said Noting that Indians have been the protectors and devotees of nature he said there is a need to project this fact properly so that the world realises that India cannot be questioned in this regardIndians have always conserved nature and even today have among the lowest percapita carbon emission globally he said while observing that the culture of recycle and reuse is not new for IndiaReferring to governments ambitious Clean Ganga initiative Modi said state governments should not compromise with the missions objective and urged banks to lend money at lower rates for installation of effluent and sewerage treatment plantsIf we successfully stop the pollution going into the 2500 kms stretch of Ganga we can imbibe in people confidence that we can check pollution through normal efforts he said He suggested switching of street lights on full moon night and use of bicycles at least once a week to conserve energyThe Prime Minister also expressed happiness at the increase in tiger population of the country The National Air Quality Index launched by the Prime Minister will monitor the quality of air in major urban centres across the country on a realtime basisThe air quality will be monitored in Delhi Agra Kanpur Lucknow Varanasi Faridabad Ahmedabad Chennai Bengaluru and HyderabadModi also released a Standard Terms of Reference for Environment Impact Analysis which was described by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar as a step that would contribute to ease of doing business