The Puri beach has received the coveted Blue Flag certification by FEE Denmark, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed on Sunday.
The beach got the tag by conforming to the stringent environmental norms and ensuring world-class sustainable tourist amenities, he said.
Nodal Officer Dr AK Sahu said the Union Government would decide the date of unfurling of the Blue Flag on the beach.
Puri district Collector Balwant Singh thanked the people of the town, administration officials and those involved in the ‘Mo Beach’ campaign for this recognition. He also sought cooperation of everyone in maintaining the tag.A beach has to meet 33 criteria fixed by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark, to get the tag.
Notably, the 870-metre stretch of the beach from Digabareni Square to the backside of Mayfair Hotel has been developed as a Blue Flag beach under 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 beach.