Two more Indian beaches gets International Blue Flag certification

Two more beaches in India have received the ‘Blue Flag’ certification on September 21, 2021.

Key Points

• 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 certificate in the year 2021.

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)”.

Month: Current Affairs - September, 2021