Odisha: Puri beach gets coveted Blue Flag certification
BHUBANESWAR: The Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) on Sunday granted the prestigious Blue Flag certification to Golden Beach in Puri, besides seven other sea beaches in the country. The Golden Beach is the first beach in the state to get this tag.
The state government hopes the Blue Flag certification would give a significant boost to tourism in the state.
The Centre, under its ambitious Beach Environment and Aesthetic Management System (BEAMS) programme, had last month proposed the names of the eight beaches to the FEE’s international jury for awarding of the Blue Flag tag. The FEE had prescribed 33 guidelines on cleanliness, eco-friendly environment and tourist-friendly amenities for the Blue Flag status.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his happiness over the Blue Flag certification for the Puri beach. “Glad to share that Golden Beach of #Puri has received coveted #BlueFlag certification by FEE Denmark by conforming to the stringent environmental norm and ensuring world-class sustainable tourist amenities. The renowned eco-label will add to the charm of the #WorldHeritageCity,” Naveen tweeted.
Of the eight-km-long Puri beach, a 870-metre stretch from Digabareni Square to Mayfair Hotel was re-developed under the World Bank-funded integrated coastal zone management project (ICZMP) for the Blue Flag certification.
Sources said nearly Rs 11 crore was spent by the Centre and state government together on development of eco-friendly and tourist-friendly amenities, including beach huts, pedestrian track, toilets, chairs, safe bathing zone, watchtowers, landscapes, garden, changing and shower rooms for tourists and solar street lights.
The Blue Flag certification is a highly prestigious global recognition and will attract tourists, mostly foreigners, to Odisha, ICZMP’s project director Susanta Nanda said.
Notably, the Golden Beach was thrown open to tourists last month. The Puri administration charges Rs 20 as user fee from each visitor for a period of three hours and Rs 50 for the whole day. “We welcome the Blue Flag tag for the 870-metre Golden Beach. But Puri has an 8-km-long beach. Other stretches have been lying in neglect and lack basic infrastructure for tourists,” said Jagannath Bastia, environmentalist and president of Beach Protection Council of Odisha, a voluntary organisation.
“Elated and proud that all 8 beaches, including the Golden Beach in Puri have bagged the coveted Blue Flag Certification. The distinguished eco-tag will further add to the glory of these pristine beaches and give impetus to sustainable beach tourism in Odisha and the country,” tweeted Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In June last year, the district administration had launched Mo Beach (my beach) campaign to keep the shoreline clean and beautiful. District collector Balwant Singh had engaged local communities, civil society organisations and volunteers in the beach cleaning exercise. Puri district has at least 7 enchanting beaches, including the sprawling shore in Puri town. Other beaches in the district that attract tourists are Chandrabhaga (Konark), Balighai, Ramchandi, Astaranga, Baliharchandi and Rajhans.