NEW DELHI: India has set an ambitious target of getting the coveted Blue Flag tag for its 100 more beaches in the next three years. At present, the country has eight such beaches, recognised as clean, safe and environment-friendly marine sites.
The Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by the Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark, based on 33 stringent criteria relating to environmental, bathing water quality, educational, safety, services and accessibility standards.
Announcing that 100 more such beaches will be made Blue Flag incoming three-four years, Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar said cleaning of beaches needed to be made a “Jan Andolan” (people’s movement) not only for its aesthetic value and tourism prospects but more importantly towards reducing the menace of marine litter and making coastal environment sustainable.