Eight Indian Beaches get Blue Flag International Eco-Label

On September 19, 2020, the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar announced that 8 Indian beaches have been recommended for the Blue Flag International Eco label. The announcement was made on the eve of International coastal clean-up day. All the eight beaches have now been provided with the Blue Flag label.

Highlights

The eight beaches that received the flag are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Kasarkod and padubidri in Karnataka, Golden Beach in Odisha, Radha Nagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Goghla in Daman and Diu, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh. This is the first time the beaches are being recommended for the blue flag International ecolabel. The recommendations were made by independent National Jury that consisted of eminent scientists and environmentalists

What is blue flag certification?

It is a globally recognised label that has been accorded by a Denmark based International agency called the foundation for environment education.  The blue flag tag is provided to beaches that adopt eco-tourism model.  It is provided to those beaches that provide clean and hygienic bathing facilities to the tourist or the beach goers and also to beaches that provide safe and healthy environment, clean facilities and hygienic amenities and promote sustainable development of the area.

BEAMS

On the sidelines of celebration of International Coastal Clean-up day, the Union Ministry of environment launched an eco-label of the BEAMS program. BEAMS is beach environment and aesthetics Management Services. It operates under integrated coastal zone management project of India.  The concept of integrated coastal zone management was introduced in 1992 to during the Earth summit at Rio de Janeiro. Several countries have adopted the concept and has India.

The Coastal region is susceptible to litter accumulation. The presence of Deborah affects the aesthetic Appeal of beaches and eventually reduces their recreational activities. The BEAMS was launched to remove the debris and promote sustainable development of coastal regions in India. The programme aims to achieve high International standard in four main categories as follows

• Environmental education
• environmental management which includes solid waste management and cleanliness in beaches
• bathing water quality standards
• safety and security of beach Goa

The Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) operating under the ministry of environment forest and climate change has initiated the process of cleaning the beaches in 13 cities under this programme. The program is also in line with the swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2020