8 Indian beaches awarded with Blue Flag

8 Indian beaches awarded with Blue Flag 

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Environment; Climate change; Pollution

In news

• 8 beaches of India have been awarded the “Blue Flag” by an International Jury comprising of eminent members from UNEP, UNWTO, FEE, IUCN.
• Beaches: Shivrajpur (Dwarka-Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (AP), Golden (Puri-Odisha) and Radhanagar (A&N Islands).
• Accorded by: The Foundation of Environment Education (FEE) Denmark

Key takeaways

• India is also the first country in Asia-Pacific region which has achieved this feat in just about 2 years’ time. 
• India is now in the league of 50 Blue Flag countries. 
• SICOM, MoEFCC, carried out BEAMS – Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.
• Aim of BEAMS: To strive for the International eco-label Blue flag.

Important value additions

Blue Flag certification

• The ‘Blue Flag’ is a certification that can be obtained by a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator.
• It serves as an eco-label. 
• The certification is known as an indication of high environmental and quality standards.
• Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.
• The certification is awarded by the Denmark-based non-profit Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) with 33 stringent criteria under four major heads for the beaches: (i) Environmental Education and Information (ii) Bathing Water Quality (iii) Environment Management and Conservation and (iv) Safety and Services.
• The Blue Flag Programme started in France in 1985 and in areas outside Europe since 2001.