SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM/NEW DELHI: Miramar beach has missed the Blue Flag Certification tag in the first phase, as the State failed to prepare the beach with necessary infrastructure for international recognition.
Miramar beach was amongst the 12 beaches across the country nominated in 2018 for Blue Flag Certification by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
The main objective of BEAMS programme is to reduce pollutants, promote sustainable development and strive for high standards in the areas of (i) environmental management (ii) environmental education (iii) bathing water quality (iv) safety & security services scientifically.
However, Goa failed to prepare the beach for the certification due to the opposition from a cross section of society.
MoEF&CC in the first phase had recommended eight Indian beaches for the coveted Blue Flag Certification, international eco-label by an Independent National jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists. “The State has failed to make it in the first phase,” sources said.
The eight beaches declared are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman And Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri beach in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden beach of Odisha and Radhanagar beach in Andaman and Nicobar.
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, who couldn’t attend the event due to the ongoing Parliament session, said through a video message that the government is committed to clean the beaches across the country. He said clean beaches are the testimony to environment in the coastal area. He said the issue of marine litter and oil spilling has caused disturbances to the aquatic life and the government is undertaking various efforts for the sustainable development of coastal regions.
Miramar beach was nominated for the Certification in February 2018. However, this was opposed by the fishing community stating that the move aims at privatising the beach, thereby affecting their livelihood. The protestors also said that pending finalisation of the coastal zone management plan (CZMP) no infrastructure work should be allowed at the beach.
The protestors even went to the High Court challenging the Ministry’s decision. Accordingly, in October 2019, the High Court stayed operations of the notification that selected Miramar for the certification.
The Union Ministry had prepared a Rs eight crore infrastructure plan for the beach that included setting up bamboo and wooden toilets, sewerage treatment plant, lifeguard cabin, showers, cleaning of beach stretch, disability access and maintenance for two years.
