Two other beaches in India have been awarded the prestigious “Blue Flag” label, details here | Latest India News
Two other beaches in India have received “Blue Flag” certification, an international eco-level label, bringing the total number of such beaches in the country to 10, the environment ministry said on Tuesday.
The two beaches to receive certification this year are Kovalam in Kerala and Eden in Pondicherry, he said.
The Danish Environmental Education Foundation (FEE), which grants Blue Flag certification, has also recertified eight nominated beaches – Shivrajpur-Gujarat, Ghoghla-Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri-Karnataka, Kappad-Kerala, Rushikonda- Andhra Pradesh, Golden-Odisha and Radhanagar-Andaman and Nicobar, which received the Blue Flag certificate last year, the ministry said.
These eight beaches obtained the Blue Flag certification on October 6, 2020.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav expressed satisfaction with the development and said it was a new step in India’s journey towards a clean and green India led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Happy to announce that India now has 10 International Blue Flag beaches with the addition of Kovalam and Eden beaches this year and the recertification of 8 beaches that achieved the label in 2020. Another important step in our journey towards a Clean and Green India led by PM Shri @ NarendraModi Ji, ”Yadav tweeted.
The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognized ecolabel granted on the basis of 33 strict criteria in four main areas which are environmental education and information, the quality of bathing water, environmental management and conservation and safety and services on the beaches.
The Blue Flag beach is a model of ecotourism striving to provide tourists / bathers with clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the region.
Recommendations are made by an independent national jury made up of eminent environmentalists and scientists.
Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches in the world, according to the ministry.
The Blue Flag label is awarded by the international jury made up of distinguished members – United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Denmark-based NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
A waved blue flag is an indication of 100% compliance with the strict 33 criteria and the good health of the beach, the ministry said earlier.
India began its journey of sustainable development of coastal regions on World Environment Day in June 2018 by launching its beach clean-up campaign – I-AM-SAVING-MY-BEACH simultaneously in 13 coastal states and in then implementing the coveted program of the Department’s Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services (BEAMS).
“The Ministry of Environment, in its pursuit of sustainable development of India’s coastal regions, has embarked on a highly regarded and flagship flagship program, which is one of the initiatives under its management approach. Integrated Coastal Zone (ICZM) that the ministry has undertaken. for the sustainable development of India’s coastal regions, with the main objective of protecting and conserving pristine coastal and marine ecosystems through holistic resource management, ”the ministry said in a statement released here Tuesday.
The aim of the BEAMS program is to reduce pollution of coastal waters, promote the sustainable development of beach facilities, protect and conserve coastal ecosystems and natural resources, and seriously challenge local authorities and stakeholders to strive for and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety for swimmers while respecting the coastal environment and regulations.
“Over the past three years or so, our ministry has achieved commendable results in the environmental management of these 10 beaches, including the restoration and nourishment of the 95,000 m² (approximately) sand dunes with native plantations; reduction of marine litter by 85% and marine plastic by 78% over the past three years; scientific and responsible disposal of 750 tonnes of marine litter; improvement of the level of cleanliness from “C” (poor) to “A” (exceptional) thanks to a scientific measurement system, “the statement said.
The Ministry of the Environment said it also saved 1,100 ml / year of municipal water through recycling; sensitized around 1,25,000 swimmers to responsible behavior on the beaches; provided alternative livelihoods for 500 fishing families through pollution reduction, safety and services, and also increased the attendance at leisure activities on beaches by around 80%, resulting in economic development.
The ministry said it is committed to developing and supplying an additional 100 beaches as part of its ICZM initiative over the next five years.
In December of last year, the ministry practically hoisted international blue flags on eight beaches across the country. The flags were also simultaneously hoisted on these beaches physically by the ministers of state and senior officials of the respective state and Union territories.
