The MoEFCC has selected 12 beaches in India to vie for a ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety.
Blue Flag Programme :-
- The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non-governmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education).
- It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined.
- Japan and South Korea are the only countries in South and southeastern Asia to have Blue Flag beaches.
- Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395, respectively.
Criteria to Meet Blue Flag Certification :-
There are nearly 33 criteria that must be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification, such as
- Water meeting certain quality standards
- Having waste disposal facilities
- Being disabled- friendly
- Have first aid equipment
- No access to pets in the main areas of the beach.
These beaches are at :-
- Shivrajpur (Gujarat)
- Bhogave (Maharashtra)
- Ghoghla (Diu)
- Miramar (Goa)
- Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka)
- Kappad (Kerala)
- Eden (Puducherry)
- Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu)
- Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh)
- Golden (Odisha)
- Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
Rushikonda Beach :- Rushikonda beach has a solid waste management plant, greywater treatment plant and CCTV cameras. More importantly, the safe zones on the beach have been clearly marked.
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