Blue Flag Certification

Why in news?

• 8 beaches in India have been selected for a ‘Blue Flag’ certification, an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety.
• These beaches are at Shivrajpur (Gujarat),  Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha), and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).

What is Blue Flag Certification?

• Blue Flag certification is a tag given to environment-friendly and clean beaches, equipped with amenities of international standards for tourists.
• It is awarded by the Copenhagen-based Foundation for environmental education (FEE). The standards were established in 1985.
• It started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001.
• Spain tops the list with more than 560 such beaches.

How does a beach get the certification?

• There are nearly 33 criteria that must be met to qualify for a Blue Flag certification, such as the water meeting certain quality standards, having waste disposal facilities, being disabled- friendly, have first aid equipment, and no access to pets in the main areas of the beach. Some criteria are voluntary and some compulsory.
• If approved, beaches are given the qualification for a year and must apply annually to continue meriting the right to fly the flag at their locations.
• In India, the Blue Flag program is implemented by the Society for Sustainable Urban Development, as the National Operator.

Beach Environment & Aesthetic Management System (BEAMS)

• It is an integrated coastal management scheme conceived  to plan sustainable tourism and healthy coastal management by MoEF&CC
• BEAMS (also referred to as Beach Management Services) will aim to reduce existing pollutants on beaches and to aspire & achieve high International Standards in India.
• The implementation of BEAMS will help beaches in India to gain blue flag certification.
• Focus Areas:
  • Environmental Management including cleanliness, solid waste management in beaches.
  • Environment Education.
  • Safety & Security of Beachgoers.
  • Bathing Water Quality Standards.
• This is launched by the Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) and SICOM has initiated the process for clean beaches in 13 pilot beaches (one pilot beach in every Coastal States/UTs) under this programme and inline with Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

PRELIMS QUESTION

The term "Blue flag certification" has been in news recently. What is it?
(a)It is provided by MoEFCC to the infrastructure projects that implement rainwater harvesting features in the projects to conserve water.
(b)It is awarded by NITI aayog to states who have been able to take measures for sustainable fishing and promoting aquaculture on large scale.
(c)It is awarded by Foundation for environmental education (FEE) to beaches for measures towards water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.  
(d)None of the above.

Answer to Prelims Question