Highlights
The eight beaches that were recommended 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.