Eight beaches in India, across five states and two union territories, have been awarded the prestigious ‘Blue Flag’ certification, announced Union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar.These beaches include Shivrajpur (Dwarka-Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod, and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (AP), Golden (Puri-Odisha), and Radhanagar (A&N Islands).
The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognized eco-label.Blue Flag is accorded by Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark.
Blue Flag certification is granted based on 33 criteria under four heads — (i) environmental education and information, (ii) bathing water quality, (iii) environment management and conservation, and (iv) safety and services at the beaches.
The Blue Flag certification is granted to beaches, marinas, or sustainable boating tourism operators that meet FEE’s set standards on the environment.
In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.
India is the only country that has received the Blue Flag certification in 2 years’ time.
Japan, South Korea, and UAE are the only other Asian nations that have been conferred with a couple of Blue Flag beaches in a time frame of about 5 to 6 years, PIB reported.
