BLUE FLAG BEACH The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach, marina or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its stringent standards.
FOUNDATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation promoting sustainable development through environmental education. Headquarters - Copenhagen, Denmark
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A beach, marina or sustainable boating tourism operator
BLUE FLAG BEACH CRITERIA 1. Information relating to coastal zone ecosystems and natural, sensitive areas in the coastal zone must be displayed 2. Information about bathing water quality must be displayed 3. Information about the Blue Flag Programme must be displayed 4. Code of conduct for the beach area must be displayed and the laws governing beach use must be easily available to the public upon request 5. A minimum of 5 environmental education activities must be offered
BLUE FLAG BEACH CRITERIA •
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Compliance with the requirements and standards for excellent bathing water quality No industrial or sewage related discharges may affect the beach area Monitoring on the health of coral reefs located in the vicinity of the beach Compliance of the community with requirements for sewage treatment and effluent quality Algae or other vegetation should be left to decay on the beach unless it constitutes a nuisance
INDIA WANTED THE BLUE FLAG The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched pilot project ‘Blue Flag’ to develop and enhance standards of cleanliness on beaches. Under the pilot project, each of coastal state/UT was requested to identify and nominate a beach, which is to be funded through ongoing Integrated Coastal Management Programme (ICMP).
NOTES The Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odisha will be the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification
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The beach was awarded the honour on World Environment Day on June 5, Environment Ministry •
THE CHANDRABHAGA BEACH ON THE KONARK COAST OF ODISHA It is the site of the 13th-century Sun Temple, also known as the Black Pagoda, built in black granite during the reign of Narasimhadeva-I. The temple is a World Heritage Site.
Twelve more beaches in the country are being developed by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM), an Environment Ministry’s body working for the management of coastal areas, in accordance with the Blue Flag standards.
BEACHES Among them are the Chiwla and Bhogave beaches in Maharashtra and one beach each from Puducherry, Goa, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
