NEW DELHI: India has set an formidable goal of getting the coveted Blue Flag tag for its 100 extra seashores within the subsequent three years. At current, the nation has eight such seashores, recognised as clear, secure and environment-friendly marine websites.
The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by the Basis for Setting Schooling in Denmark, based mostly on 33 stringent standards regarding environmental, bathing water high quality, academic, security, providers and accessibility requirements.
Saying that 100 extra such seashores can be made Blue Flag incoming three-four years, Union atmosphere minister Prakash Javadekar mentioned cleansing of seashores wanted to be made a “Jan Andolan” (individuals’s motion) not just for its aesthetic worth and tourism prospects however extra importantly in direction of lowering the menace of marine litter and making coastal atmosphere sustainable.
He was talking after nearly hoisting the worldwide Blue Flags at eight seashores throughout the nation. The Flags have been additionally concurrently hoisted on these seashores bodily by state ministers and senior officers of the respective states and Union Territories.
The eight Indian seashores, which had acquired the Blue Flag tag in October, are Shivrajpur (Dwarka, Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden Seashore (Puri, Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
The Blue Flag seashores are thought-about the cleanest seashores of the world. Over 4600 seashores, marinas and boats from round 50 international locations have, to this point, acquired the Blue Flag certification. Spain has the best variety of Blue Flag-tagged websites.
With a view to obtain the aim of getting Blue Flags for extra 100 seashores, the atmosphere ministry had in September launched India’s personal eco-label ‘BEAMS’ (Seashore Setting & Aesthetics Administration Providers) beneath its Built-in Coastal Zone Administration (ICZM) undertaking.
“The introduction of BEAMS programme in 10 coastal states have resulted in worldwide stage of cleanliness at seashores with over 500 tonnes of stable waste collected, recycled and scientifically disposed at these seashores lowering the menace of marine litter by over 78% and marine plastic by over 83%,” mentioned an announcement from the atmosphere ministry.