Two more beaches in India have been awarded ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an international eco-level tag, taking the total number of such beaches in the country to 10.

The two beaches to receive the certification this year are Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry.

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 recommendations are done by an independent national jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists.

• 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.

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.

• These eight beaches got the Blue Flag certification on October 6, 2020.

BEAMS programme

• The environment ministry had started its journey of sustainable development of coastal regions on World Environment Day in June 2018 by launching its beach cleaning campaign I-AM-SAVING-MY-BEACH simultaneously in 13 coastal states.

• It also embarked upon a highly acclaimed and flagship programme Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services (BEAMS), which is one of the initiatives under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.

• The concept of ICZM was introduced in 1992 during the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro. Many countries have been adopting ICZM principles for managing their coastal zones. Adoption of ICZM principles for managing and sustainably developing coastal regions helps India in keeping with its commitments to international agreements on ICZM.

• The ministry said it is committed to develop and deliver 100 more beaches under its ICZM initiative in the ensuing five years.

Objectives of BEAMS: 

• Abate pollution in coastal waters.

• Promote sustainable development of beach facilities.

• Protect and conserve coastal ecosystems and natural resources. 

• Challenge local authorities and stakeholders to strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment and regulations.

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