India joined the coveted list of nations in the world having most eco-friendly beaches on Monday with at least eight beaches—Kappad in Kerala, Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) — conferred with international Blue Flag certificate.
A Blue Flag beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists or beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.
Japan, South Korea and the UAE are the only other Asian nations who have been conferred with a couple of Blue Flag beaches.
The Blue Flag was hoisted in these beaches virtually by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday, suggesting a global recognition of India’s conservation and sustainable development efforts. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.
The Flags were also simultaneously hoisted on these beaches physically by state ministers and senior officials of the respective state and Union territories.
India secured the International Blue Flag Certification for these beaches on 6 October when an International Jury comprising of member organisations UNEP, UNWTO, UNESCO, IUCN, ILS, FEE etc. announced the award at Copenhagen, Denmark.
Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by “Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria.
Terming it a “proud moment” for the country, Javadekar said the certification is a global recognition of India’s conservation and sustainable development efforts.
While hosting the flag, Javadekar said that neat and clean beaches are an indicator that the coastal environment is in good health and the Blue Flag certification is a global recognition of India’s conservation and sustainable development efforts.
The Environment Minister further said that hundred more such beaches will be made Blue Flag in the coming 3-4 years and highlighted that cleaning beaches needs to be a made a “Jan Andolan” not only for its aesthetic value and tourism prospects but more importantly towards reducing the menace of marine litter and making coastal environment sustainable.
The Government had on September 18 recommended these eight beaches for the coveted international eco-label. India began its humble journey in 2018 for development of pilot beaches (one each in coastal states/UTs) and presented the first set of eight beaches for the certification for the ensuing tourist season 2020.