Eight Indian beaches recommended for coveted Blue Flag international eco-label

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National News

Sep 19, 2020

12:25PM

Eight Indian beaches recommended for coveted Blue Flag international eco-label

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Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ international eco-label. He said, clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in coastal areas and India’s many beaches are among the best in the world. Speaking on the eve of ‘International Coastal Clean-Up Day’ celebrated across 100 countries since 1986, Mr Javadekar said, for the first time, eight beaches of India have been recommended for the Blue Flag certification. Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency ‘Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark’ based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads–environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches.

The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area. In a video message, Mr Javadekar also announced India’s own eco-label ‘Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services’ (BEAMS) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project. The eight beaches recommended under the BEAMS are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

World Bank’s country director Zunaid Khan applauded India’s efforts towards cleaning up its beaches and said India with its strategies for sustainable coastal zone management shall act as a lighthouse for other countries in the region.