PANJIM: The Goa government has been asked to identify ten more beaches by the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), for Blue Flag for the certification.
This direction comes despite the fact that the government is struggling hard, since last one year, to get Blue Flag certification for Miramar beach due to the growing opposition from the fishing community,
Blue Flag certification from the Foundation for Education, Denmark, is a voluntary certification, where countries have to meet 33 criteria for chosen beaches. The focus of the certification is cleanliness and hygiene and protection of ecology of the certified beach stretch.
Miramar beach was amongst the 13 beaches across country nominated last year for Blue Flag Certification. Goa is the only State that has failed to prepare the beach for the certification due to the opposition.
In a letter to Chief Secretary Parimal Rai on September 11, MoEF&CC secretary C K Mishra has asked the State to identify and prioritise at least ten beaches in their respective territories and inform the Ministry accordingly by September 30, to facilitate drawing a concrete road map for the programme. Letters have been sent to 13 coastal States.
“I look forward to the support and cooperation of the State Government for the green initiative for enhancing the eco-tourism potential along the coastline of the country,” Mishra said in the letter.
Earlier, Mishra said that Government of India has embarked on an ambitious plan for ‘Blue Flag Certification’ in identified 100 beaches of the country during next five years. “The certification is one of the most stringent certification related to sustainable eco-tourism, development of beaches, encompassing high quality standards of water quality, safety of beach goers and in bathing zones, public amenities, sound waste management plans, focus on renewable energy and water conservation, environment education, information on biodiversity and beach ecology, etc,” secretary said.
Towards this purpose, he said that the first and foremost requirement is that of identification of a potential beach which would prima facie be meeting the stringent water quality parameter and is a safe bathing zone.
Miramar beach was nominated for the Certification in February 2018. However, the same has been opposed by fishing community stating that the move aims at privatizing of the beach, thereby affecting their livelihood. State has already lost one year, of the total two years granted by Centre to provide the support for preparing the beach for certification.
