Know what is the blue flag, what is its scale, what will be the benefit of getting the blue flag certificate
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To make the beaches environmentally friendly, the Blue Flag program was launched from Paris in France and within two years, many beaches were awarded this award. …
Marine beach is a major attraction for people in many countries of the world. Every year a large number of people visit such places. The beach is fun. The Blue Flag program was launched from Paris in France to make the beaches environmentally friendly and within two years almost all the beaches of Europe were awarded this title. Now many beaches of the country have to be awarded this title. For this, their names have been sent by the environment minister.
Many beaches of India are the best in the world
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that clean beaches are a sign of good environment in coastal areas and many of India’s beaches are the best in the world. On the occasion of ‘International Coastal Clean-up Day’, he said that for the first time names have been sent to eight Indian beaches for awarding the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ certificate. Since 1986, International Coastal Clean-up Day has been celebrated in around 100 countries of the world. The Blue Flag Certificate is given by a Danish institution. The environment project was launched in December 2017 by the environment ministry to develop beaches in India according to ‘Blue Flag Beach’ standards.
Principal basis for award of certificate
Blue Flag is the world’s most recognized and prestigious voluntary eco label award given to beaches, marina beach and sustainable boating tourism operators. The FEE (Foundation for Environment Education) started the Blue Flag project in 1985 from Paris, France. The grounds are laid down for granting these certificates to any country’s coastline. There are about 33 standards that must be met for Blue Flag certification.
What is the main standard
Although a total of 33 standards have been set to give blue flag certificate to the beach of any country, but some of them are prominent. The rest are taken into consideration only after meeting these major standards. This includes standards such as first having some water quality standards, waste disposal facilities, first aid equipment and pets being banned on shore. Some of these criteria are voluntary and some are mandatory.
One of the most beautiful beaches in Asia among India
Japan and South Korea are the only countries in Asia that have Blue Flag certified beaches. Spain tops with 566 beaches; Greece and France have 515 and 395 beaches respectively. India has been considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia. There are 13 such beaches in India with eco-friendly, clean and international standards-based tourism facilities, all of which were being talked about to give these certificates but currently 8 of them have been selected. The rest is being prepared for this.
These beaches of Odisha, Maharashtra and other coastal states will be the first beaches to receive Blue Flag beach status not only in India but across Asia. India’s beaches are being developed as per the Blue Flag standards under the supervision of the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICM), an under-working body of the Ministry of Environment, in the field of management of seaside areas.
What will be the benefit of getting blue flag certificate
In fact, after getting the Blue Flag certificate, the country’s beaches will also be according to international standards. After that those who still go abroad for a walk on the sea shore will be able to enjoy it here too. Apart from this, tourists coming from abroad will also be able to go here, they will also be able to enjoy the beaches along with tourist places in the country.
In the year 2018, these 13 beaches were identified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for award of certificates. The names of these were sent to the institution, out of which 8 have been selected.
- Golden Beach Odisha
- Ghoghala Beach, Diu
- Shirazpur Beach, Gujarat
- Bhogaway Beach, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra
- Miramar Beach, Goa
- Padubidri Coast, Karnataka
- Kasarakod Beach, Karnataka
- Kapad Beach, Kerala
- Kovalam Beach, Tamil Nadu
- Eden Beach, Puducherry
- Rushikonda Beach, Andhra Pradesh
- Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- Bangaram Beach, Lakshadweep
