Recently, Eight beaches in India have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag certification and it is a rather proud moment for the country. Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar, explains how this certificate is a global recognition of India’s conservation and sustainable development efforts.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE
A blue flag basically indicates that it is an ecotourism model thriving to provide tourists with clean and hygienic water facilities and safe and a healthy environment. It is a globally recognized eco-label that is awarded 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.
The certification was awarded to India by an international jury comprising the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
The beaches in India that 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 in Odisha, and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it said. Moreover, India was also awarded the third prize by the jury under the “International Best Practices” for pollution control in coastal regions.
