The Ministry has embarked upon a program for ‘Blue Flag’ Certification for select beaches in the country.
This Certification is accorded by an international agency “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads that are –
- Environmental Education and Information,
- Bathing Water Quality,
- Environment Management and Conservation
- and Safety and Services in the beaches.
Central to the ideals of the Blue Flag program is the aim of connecting the public with their surroundings and encouraging them to learn more about their environment.
As such, environmental education activities must be offered and promoted in addition to a permanent display of information relevant to the site in terms of biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental phenomena.
The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an Eco-tourism model endeavoring to provide to the tourists/beach goers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.
13 pilot beaches that have been identified for the certification, in consultation with concerned coastal States/UTs.
The name of these beaches are-
- Ghoghala Beach (Diu),
- Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat),
- Bhogave (Maharashtra),
- Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnagaka),
- Kappad beach (Kerala),
- Kovalam beach (Tamil Nadu),
- Eden beach (Puducherry),
- Rushikonda beach (Andhra Pradesh),
- Miramar beach (Goa),
- Golden beach (Odisha),
- Radhanagar beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)
- Bangaram beach (Lakshadweep) and
- Rushikonda beach in Andhra Pradesh
Till date only 4573 of them have been awarded which are spread over 47 countries.
This is a PIB News-Feed; edited by Clean-Future Team