Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the National Air Quality Index (AQI) for monitoring the quality of air in major urban centres across the country on a real-time basis and enhancing public awareness for taking mitigative action.

Speaking at the event, Modi said, "We have been brought up in a nation where environment protection is connected with human sentiments, and nature is considered next to god."

The Prime Minister said, "Our contribution to level of pollution is one of the lowest in the world. More we are sensitive towards the nature and environment, lesser chance the world will get to raise question on us."

Stating that the world is tackling with the challenge of Global Warming, but they still haven't been able to find a way, Modi added, "Until we actually bring a change in our lifestyles, all the other efforts will go in vain."

"We have grown up in those traditions where nature is worshipped and where conserving nature is very important. There should be an environment in our schools that encourages nature conservation. We have no right to exploit nature. This is not a part of our culture." said Modi.

"Some people think development and environment are opposite. This thought is wrong. Both can happen. Environment protection and development can go hand in hand," Modi added.

Calling for the better management and use of solid waste, Modi said India is effectively moving towards applying solar and wind energy to various activities of daily life.

“We are moving in the direction of solar and wind energy, we also need to stress upon solid waste management. India wants environment protection by using nuclear energy but, countries say no to nuke energy to India,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also his expressed happiness on increased tiger population

“I am told the tiger population has increased. I am happy to know this,” he added.

“The towns and cities located on banks of river Ganga are closely linked with clean Ganga campaign. If we take a pledge that towns situated on banks of Ganga will not pollute the river, you yourself will witness the change,” he added.

Taking on opposition parties over the land bill issue, he said, "Efforts to mislead people on tribal, forest land; such campaign must end."

Launched during the two-day Environment and Forest Minister's conference, AQI assumes significance as Delhi -- which has been termed one of the most-polluted cities in the world -- and other cities in the country have raised deep concern over their deteriorating air quality.

The AQI has been at present launched for 10 cities -- Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Faridabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. It will have 'one number, one colour and one description' to inform the public about air quality in a simple and easily understandable format. The ministry said that each of these cities will have 6-7 continuous monitoring stations with AQI display boards.

"The AQI may prove to be a major initiative for improving air quality in urban areas as it would enhance public awareness and involvement and create a competitive environment among cities to take steps for air pollution-mitigation," it said in a release.

The ministry said that, traditionally, air quality status has been reported through voluminous data, but it is important that such information is put in the public domain in a format that can be easily understood by a layman. The AQI has been developed by the Central Pollution Control Board in consultation with IIT-Kanpur and an expert group comprising medical, air-quality professionals and other stakeholders.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has been demanding adoption of an AQI for a long time, welcomed the launch and said it was "an important step forward for building awareness and protecting public health". It added that it was "time to push for aggressive and time -bound action in Delhi and other Indian cities to meet clean- air standards and reduce the public health risk"

The conference is seen as a final step of consultations and taking states on board before bringing amendments in the existing green laws.

The state environment ministers and officials will brainstorm on proposed changes in the six environment laws apart from reflecting upon simplification of existing processes and ensure strict compliance of green norms.

The six laws that govern environment, forest and wildlife related issues are Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, Wildlife Protection Act, Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act and Indian Forest Act.

The first day of the conference will have two sessions each on 'Waste to Wealth' and 'Ease of doing business and TSR report'.

A copy of the latest Tiger census report will also be presented to the Prime Minister during the conference.

(With agency inputs)