Eight Indian beaches have received the ‘coveted’ Blue Flag certification, announced Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar in a tweet on Sunday.
“Proud moment for India; all 8 beaches recommended by government gets coveted International Blue Flag Certification. An outstanding feat, as no BLUE FLAG nation, has ever been awarded for 8 beaches in a single attempt,” tweeted Javadekar.
The eight Indian beaches which got this tag are Shivrajpur (Dwarka, Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Puri, Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
While Japan, South Korea and UAE have been conferred with a couple of Blue Flag beaches in a time frame of about 5 to 6 years, Javadekar stated that India is the first country in “Asia-Pacific” region which has achieved this feat in just about 2 years and is now in the league of 50 “BLUE FLAG” countries.
The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by “Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark” based on 33 stringent criteria under four major heads — environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management and conservation, and safety and services at the beaches.
India has also been awarded the third prize by the jury under the “International Best Practices” for pollution control in coastal regions, it added.
The government had on September 18 recommended these eight beaches for the coveted international eco-label.
The basic criteria for getting the certification are safety/security, pollution-free, good bathing water quality and environmental education of beach users.
A Blue Flag beach should have benches for tourists to relax, showers to enable them to take a bath after a dip, a gymnasium and proper solid waste disposal systems among other things.
“Eight of India’s serene beaches get the prestigious Blue Flag Certification. This showcases the importance India attaches to protecting such spots and furthering sustainable development. Truly a wonderful feat!” the prime minister tweeted, tagging a report in this regard.
Here are the photos of the 8 beaches:
Shivrajpur beach:
Shivrajpur beach in Dwarka, Gujarat – Located at 12 km from Dwarka. It is a beautiful beach with clear water and white sand.
Ghoghla Beach:
Ghoghla beach is located in Diu. This beach is known for its gentle waves and its splendid view.
Kasarkod Beach:
The Kasarkod Beach is located in Karnataka. The beach is also known as eco beach.
Kappad Beach:
Kappad Beach is located in the district of Kozhikode in Kerala. Locally known as Kappakadavu.
Rushikonda Beach:
Rushikonda beach is located in Andhra Pradesh. It is known for its golden sands. Situated at around 8 km from Vizag city, is also a spot for water sports.
Padubidri Beach:
Golden Beach:
Located in Odisha, this beach is also known as the Puri Beach. This is a golden sand beach is famous for the works of sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik.
Radhanagar Beach:
It is located in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
