NEW DELHI: Two more Indian beaches —— Kovalam in Tamil Nadu and Eden in Puducherry —— have got the coveted international ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an eco-level tag given to clean and well-managed beaches as per globally recognised standards. India now has 10 such beaches.
The certifictaion recognises clean, safe and environment-friendly beaches and marinas. In order to qualify for the tag, 33 stringent criteria relating to environment, water quality, educational, safety, services and accessibility standards must be met by the beaches. Speaking in the assembly earlier this month, TN environment minister Siva V Meyyanathan had promised to spend Rs 100 crore over the next five years to get‘Blue Flag’ certification for TN beaches to promote eco-tourism.
Odisha’s Golden Beach got ‘Blue Tag’ last year
The ‘Blue Flag’ tag is one of the world’s most recognised awards for clean, safe and environment-friendly beaches, and marinas. In order to qualify for this tag, 33 stringent criteria relating to environmental, bathing water quality, educational, safety, services and accessibility standards must be met by the beaches.
The other eight Indian beaches, which had got this tag last year, are Shivrajpur (Dwarka, Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Beach (Puri, Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
