India is a vast country with a population of 1.380 billion. It is a developing country and is facing a huge challenge of waste management due to rapid urbanization.

62 million tons of municipal solid waste is being generated by almost 377 million urban people per annum, of which only 43 million tons of the waste is collected. There’s no transparent data available which clarifies the treatment of the rest of the 19 million tons of solid waste.

Due to rain and other factors, most of the garbage gets accumulated in water bodies and beaches and damages marine life. Increased littering on the beaches due to tourism adds a cherry on top and makes the restful beaches, fragment of a landfill.

However, state authorities and various NGOs keep conducting cleanliness drives once in a while to preserve the allure of Indian beaches.

Recently, a total of eight Indian beaches have been recommended for the coveted international eco-label, the Blue-Flag certification. This has happened for the first time in India. 

The Blue Flag

According to the Blue Flag website, “The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognized voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained”.

The Blue Flag-tagged beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world. 

Spain, so far, has the highest number of Blue Flag certified sites by the international jury. However, a total of 4664 beaches, marinas, and boats from 46 countries have got the Blue-Flag certification but unfortunately, there are none from India.


Also Read: Why India Doesn’t Deserve Beaches: Versova Beach Cleanliness Drive Called Off


Special Occasion Of International Coastal Clean-Up Day 

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had announced the list on Friday, on the eve of the International Coastal Clean-Up Day, which is celebrated since 1986 across 100 countries.

The recommendations for the blue flag label are made by an independent national jury composed of scientists and environmentalists. 

In a statement, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar virtually said, “Clean beaches are a testimony of the environment in coastal areas. The issue of marine litter and oil spilling has caused disturbances to aquatic life and the Government of India is undertaking various efforts for the sustainable development of coastal regions.”

On the same day, the event also saw the launch of India’s own eco-label BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services) under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM).

BEAMS was launched by e-hoisting a flag with a message “IAMSAVINGMYBEACH” simultaneously at the eight recommended beaches virtually from MoEFCC and physically by the members of Beach Management Committees (BMCs).

The environment ministry said on the launch of the BEAMS, “This is one of the several other projects of ICZM that the central government is undertaking for the sustainable development of coastal regions, striving for globally recognized and the coveted eco-label Blue flag”.

List Of The Beaches

  1. Shivrajpur Beach, Gujarat
  2. Ghoghla Beach, Daman and Diu
  3. Kasarkod Beach, Karnataka
  4. Kappad Beach, Kerala
  5. Rushikonda Beach, Andhra Pradesh
  6. Golden Beach, Odisha
  7. Padubidri Beach, Karnataka
  8. Radhanagar Beach, Andaman and Nicobar

Now, it’s totally up to the international jury to label the recommended Indian beaches with the Blue Flag eco-label. It will be declared by the jury, most probably, in the next month. 

Maybe this time we can make it to the Blue Flag!


Image Credits: Google Images

Source: Times of IndiaWIONANI

Find the Blogger: @dikks09

This post is tagged under: blue flag, blue flag certification, Indian beaches recommended for blue flag certification, BEAMS, eco-label, blue flag eco-label, eight Indian beaches, ICZM, I am saving my beach, waste management, MoEFCC, marine life, aquatic life, sustainable development, tourism, clean indian beaches, cleanest indian beaches, dirtiest indian beaches, beach pollution, marine pollution, dirty indian beaches, blue waters, clear water indian beaches, water bodies, rivers, oceans


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