Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday through videoconferencing hoisted the Blue Flag at the Puri sea beach and seven other beaches in the country.
“It is a proud moment for India that all the eight beaches which were showcased have been awarded the coveted Blue Flag. I compliment and congratulate the State Governments, officials and people for this feat.
We have identified 100 beaches in the next phase and plan to make them neat and clean. With people’s participation, we wish to make them of international standards in coming 3-4 years,” said Javadekar.The Puri beach has received the Blue Flag certification by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark. A beach has to meet 33 criteria fixed by the FEE to get the tag.
Notably, the 870-metre stretch of the Puri beach from Digabareni Square to the backside of Mayfair Hotel has been developed as Blue Flag beach under the World Bank-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) of the State Forest and Environment Department and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Public toilets, changing and shower rooms, watchtowers, solar lighting system, sitting arrangements, demarcation of safe swimming zone, approach road, fencing with plantation, jogging track, etc., have been developed on this stretch.
