Israel is holding its largest and most advanced air force exercise ever, joined by seven countries including India, France, the US, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. The exercise named 'Blue Flag' is underway in Israel's Negev desert.

Israel holds largest-ever air exercise, 'Blue Flag' air drill in Negev desert

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted 'Blue Flag' international eco-label.

He said clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in coastal areas and India's many beaches are among the best in the world.

Speaking on the eve of 'International Coastal Clean-Up Day' celebrated across 100 countries since 1986, Javadekar said for the first time, eight beaches of India have been recommended for the Blue Flag certification.

Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency 'Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark' based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads--environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. &nbsp;The 'Blue Flag' beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

“I am very happy that people around the globe are launching 'Coastal Clean Up Day' today. We have also come up with our own hashtag – 'I am saving my beach'. Clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in the coastal area. It is very important, otherwise the problem of marine litter and many other problems of spilling oil, cause disturbances to aquatic life.

“We, today, are taking a vow to clean up our beaches and I am very proud that we have started our highly acclaimed programme BEAMS. So we are cleaning the beaches and today our beaches are much cleaner and many are among the best in the world. Therefore, we all must vow to clean up our beaches,” Javadekar said in a video message.

He also announced India's own eco-label 'Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services' (BEAMS) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.

The eight beaches recommended under the BEAMS are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The recommendations are done by an independent national jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world, the environment ministry said.

BEAMS is one of the several other projects of ICZM that the central government is undertaking for sustainable development of coastal regions, striving for the globally recognised and coveted eco-label 'Blue Flag', it said.

A flag hoisting program was conducted simultaneously at these eight beaches virtually by the ministry and physically at the beaches by respective states/UTs through its MLAs and/or Chairman of Beach Management Committees, the ministry said.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Environment Secretary R P Gupta said high standards are being maintained to clean the beaches to keep the environment safe and in the next four to five years, 100 more beaches will be cleaned.

In a video message, World Bank's country director Zunaid Khan applauded India's efforts towards cleaning up its beaches and said India with its strategies for sustainable coastal zone management shall act as a lighthouse for other countries in the region, the ministry said in a statement.

Elaborating on BEAMS, the ministry said, its objective is to abate pollution in coastal waters, promote sustainable development of beach facilities, protect and conserve coastal ecosystems and natural resources, and seriously challenge local authorities and stakeholders to strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment and regulations.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted 'Blue Flag' international eco-label.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said eight beaches of the country have been recommended for the coveted 'Blue Flag' international eco-label. He said clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in coastal areas and India's many beaches are among the best in the world. Speaking on the eve of 'International Coastal Clean-Up Day' celebrated across 100 countries since 1986, Javadekar said for the first time, eight beaches of India have been recommended for the Blue Flag certification. Blue Flag certification is a globally recognised eco-label accorded by an international agency 'Foundation for Environment Education, Denmark' based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads--environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environment management and conservation and safety and services in the beaches. The 'Blue Flag' beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide the tourists/beachgoers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area. “I am very happy that people around the globe are launching 'Coastal Clean Up Day' today. We have also come up with our own hashtag – 'I am saving my beach'. Clean beaches are a testimony to good environment in the coastal area. It is very important, otherwise the problem of marine litter and many other problems of spilling oil, cause disturbances to aquatic life. “We, today, are taking a vow to clean up our beaches and I am very proud that we have started our highly acclaimed programme BEAMS. So we are cleaning the beaches and today our beaches are much cleaner and many are among the best in the world. Therefore, we all must vow to clean up our beaches,” Javadekar said in a video message. He also announced India's own eco-label 'Beach Environment and Aesthetics Management Services' (BEAMS) under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project. The eight beaches recommended under the BEAMS are Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman and Diu, Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka, Kappad in Kerala, Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh, Golden in Odisha and Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The recommendations are done by an independent national jury composed of eminent environmentalists and scientists. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world, the environment ministry said. BEAMS is one of the several other projects of ICZM that the central government is undertaking for sustainable development of coastal regions, striving for the globally recognised and coveted eco-label 'Blue Flag', it said. A flag hoisting program was conducted simultaneously at these eight beaches virtually by the ministry and physically at the beaches by respective states/UTs through its MLAs and/or Chairman of Beach Management Committees, the ministry said. Speaking on the occasion, Union Environment Secretary R P Gupta said high standards are being maintained to clean the beaches to keep the environment safe and in the next four to five years, 100 more beaches will be cleaned. In a video message, World Bank's country director Zunaid Khan applauded India's efforts towards cleaning up its beaches and said India with its strategies for sustainable coastal zone management shall act as a lighthouse for other countries in the region, the ministry said in a statement. Elaborating on BEAMS, the ministry said, its objective is to abate pollution in coastal waters, promote sustainable development of beach facilities, protect and conserve coastal ecosystems and natural resources, and seriously challenge local authorities and stakeholders to strive and maintain high standards of cleanliness, hygiene and safety for beachgoers in accordance with coastal environment and regulations.

Eight Indian beaches recommended for coveted 'Blue Flag' certification: Javadekar

By: Sanjay Mohapatra

The Chandrabhaga beach in Puri district in east Indian state of Odisha has become the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification. The certification is given by Denmark-based Federation of Environment Education (FEE) to beaches which are environment-friendly, clean and equipped with amenities of international standards for tourists.

The beach was given the honour on World Environment Day on Wednesday (June 5). It is situated 30 km from the city of Puri.

According to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, 12 other beaches will soon get the Blue Flag certification. These beaches are in Maharashtra and other coastal states.

The Indian beaches are being developed by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM), an environment ministry's body working for the management of coastal areas.

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A beach needs to comply with at least 33 pre-requisites to achieve the Blue Flag certificate. This includes quality of sea water, availability of toilets, changing rooms, first aid centres, solar lighting and parking lots. It also has to be plastic-free and be equipped with a waste management system.

While central government will be investing Rs 10 crore for the project, the SICOM will fund it with Rs two crore.

The Blue Flag beach standards were established by FEE in 1985. The Blue Flag programme, which requires 33 standards in four areas to be met to make beaches environment-friendly, first started from Paris.

Within the next two years, almost all beaches in Europe were accorded the Blue Flag certification.

This campaign spread outside Europe, to South Africa, in 2001. Asia remained untouched by it till now.

The environment ministry started a pilot project to develop the Indian beaches according to the Blue Flag standards in December 2017.

(With inputs from agencies)

By: Sanjay Mohapatra The Chandrabhaga beach in Puri district in east Indian state of Odisha has become the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification. The certification is given by Denmark-based Federation of Environment Education (FEE) to beaches which are environment-friendly, clean and equipped with amenities of international standards for tourists.

By: Sanjay Mohapatra The Chandrabhaga beach in Puri district in east Indian state of Odisha has become the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification. The certification is given by Denmark-based Federation of Environment Education (FEE) to beaches which are environment-friendly, clean and equipped with amenities of international standards for tourists. The beach was given the honour on World Environment Day on Wednesday (June 5). It is situated 30 km from the city of Puri. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, 12 other beaches will soon get the Blue Flag certification. These beaches are in Maharashtra and other coastal states. The Indian beaches are being developed by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM), an environment ministry's body working for the management of coastal areas. A beach needs to comply with at least 33 pre-requisites to achieve the Blue Flag certificate. This includes quality of sea water, availability of toilets, changing rooms, first aid centres, solar lighting and parking lots. It also has to be plastic-free and be equipped with a waste management system. While central government will be investing Rs 10 crore for the project, the SICOM will fund it with Rs two crore. The Blue Flag beach standards were established by FEE in 1985. The Blue Flag programme, which requires 33 standards in four areas to be met to make beaches environment-friendly, first started from Paris. Within the next two years, almost all beaches in Europe were accorded the Blue Flag certification. This campaign spread outside Europe, to South Africa, in 2001. Asia remained untouched by it till now. The environment ministry started a pilot project to develop the Indian beaches according to the Blue Flag standards in December 2017. (With inputs from agencies)

Puri beach becomes first in Asia to get Blue Flag tag

The Chandrabhaga beach in Puri district in east Indian state of Odisha has become the first in Asia to get the Blue Flag certification. The certification is given by Denmark-based Federation of Environment Education (FEE) to beaches which are environment-friendly, clean and equipped with amenities of international standards for tourists. The beach was given the honour on World Environment Day on Wednesday. It is situated 30 km from the city of Puri.

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Israel holds largest-ever air exercise, 'Blue Flag' air drill in Negev desert

Eight Indian beaches recommended for coveted 'Blue Flag' certification: Javadekar

Puri beach becomes first in Asia to get Blue Flag tag

Puri beach becomes first in Asia to get Blue Flag tag