Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that eight beaches in India have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag certification.

The beaches which have been awarded the certification are:

• Shivrajpur in Gujarat 

• Ghoghla in Diu

• Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka

• Kappad in Kerala

• Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh

• Golden Beach in Odisha

• Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

On September 18, the government had recommended these eight beaches for the coveted international eco-label.

Blue Flag certification has been awarded by an international jury comprising members of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Denmark-based NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

India has also been awarded the third prize by the jury under the ‘International Best Practices’ for pollution control in coastal regions.

What is Blue Flag?

The ‘Blue Flag’ is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. The programme is operated under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. 

The Blue Flag programme started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined.

The mission is to promote sustainability in the tourism sector, through environmental education, environmental protection and other sustainable development practices.

The eco-label is accorded based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads — environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. 

The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

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