NEW DELHI, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear on Friday that his government would not shy away from its responsibility of protecting the environment, despite doing its best for the country's growth.

"Respect for nature is part of India's culture. We consider Earth our mother. India believes in growth but is also committed to protecting the environment," Modi said in his address at World Sustainable Development Summit in the national capital.

"We are doing everything that is required of us and we expect that others also join into fulfillment of that commitment based on common but differentiated responsibility and equity," the prime minister added.

Expressing concerns over the issue of water availability to farmers across India, Modi said: "We are committed to ensuring that no farm goes without water. We are working to electrify every household of the country."

More than 2,000 delegates are attending the summit that seeks to create action frameworks to resolve some of the most urgent challenges facing developing economies against the backdrop of climate change.