22 September 2021
Introduction:
Two more beaches in India have received the ‘Blue Flag’ certification on September 21, 2021.
Highlights:
- Blue flag certification is an international eco-level tag.
- With the addition of two beaches, the total number of such beaches in India have reached to 10.
- Two beaches that received the certification in 2021 are Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry.
- Blue Flag recertification was also done for eight nominated beaches namely, Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Diu, Kasarkod & Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad-Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman & Nicobar. All these beaches were awarded this
- Blue Flag certification.
- Beaches with Blue Flag certification are considered as the cleanest beaches across the world.
- It is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels that are awarded to beaches, marinas, as well as sustainable boating tourism operators.
- Blue flag certification programme was launched in 1985 in France.
What are the Criteria for Certification?
- To certify a beach with blue flag certification, a series of stringent environmental, educational, accessibility & safety criteria is checked.
- There are 33 such criteria that are required to be met in a bid to qualify for a Blue Flag certification.
- Criteria include water meeting certain quality standards, being disabled- friendly, having waste disposal facilities, having first aid equipment etc.
- Some of these criteria are voluntary and some are compulsory.
Who gives this certification?
- The Blue Flag Certification Programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, non-governmental & non-profit organisation called “Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)”.