Kasarkod, Padubidri beaches get ‘Blue Flag’ tag
Shwetha S
Karwar, Oct 11: The wait is over. Two beaches in Karnataka- Kasarkod and Padubidri are among the eight Blue Flag tag beaches in the country.
This is the first set of Blue tag beaches in the country identified by International Jury FEE Denmark.
To protect and conserve the environment and control and abate pollution in coastal beaches and sea waters, the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) had identified beaches for internationally recognized “Blue Flag” Certification.
The name of Kasarkod beach in Uttara Kannada and Padubidri beach in Udupi district were included in the list of eight beaches for a blue flag tag. Now the official communique has declared blue flag tag to both the beaches and six others in the country.
Meanwhile, India has also bagged 3rd prize under the “International Best Practices” in pollution abatement in coastal regions.
The mission of Blue Flag is to promote sustainability in the tourism sector, through environmental education, environmental protection, and other sustainable development practices.
Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner, Dr. K Harish Kumar, who has been toiling to get this tag by personally visiting the beach several times and reviewing the work, has expressed happiness.
“It is great news as we will now be on the global tourism map. It will help in boosting the beach tourism. A new era of beach tourism will start henceforth in the district. We had fulfilled all the set requirements and were expecting of getting this tag. Our expectations have become a reality,” he told The Canara Post.
“The airport work will also start shortly in our district. National and international flights can land in Ankola. This will boost tourism in Uttara Kannada. We would like to thank all those who had worked for this,” he added.
Udupi Tourism Assistant Director Chandrashekhar Nayak too expressed his happiness over Padubidri beach getting the blue flag tag.
“We are now in the world tourism map and the blue tag will help us boost our tourism,” he said.
What does a blue flag beach mean in common words:
The blue flag tag is given to those beaches which have met the set requirements like environmental awareness, environment management, environmental education, and safety.
The district administrations had sent the proposal to develop Kasarkod and Padubidri which the state government approved. The central government included them in the eight beaches.
Blue flag beach would boost tourism as these beaches will now be marked in the tourism map as ‘Blue flag beach.’ Tourists and the tourism service providers will recommend these beaches as they meet the international standards of safety and cleanliness.
Where are these two beaches:
Padubidri beach is near Padubidri Town in the Udupi district. Kasarkod beach in Uttara Kannada district is adjacent to the Goa-Mangaluru highway (NH 66) and about 5 km from Honnavar Town.
How to reach them?
Both the beaches are well connected. The highway and bus stops are close to the beach. Most of the trains have a halt at Honnavar as well as Padubidri railway stations.
The nearest airport is Mangaluru International Airport.
What are the facilities here:
All necessary facilities are provided giving special stress to the environment, cleanliness, and safety.
(a) Portable toilet blocks, change rooms, and shower panels;
(b) Greywater treatment plant;
(c) Solid waste management plant;
(d) Solar power plant;
(e) Purified drinking water facility;
(f) Beach access pathways;
(g) Landscaping lighting;
(h) Seating benches and sit-out umbrellas;
(i) Outdoor play / fitness equipment;
(j) CCTV surveillance and control room;
(k) First aid station;
(l) Cloakroom facility;
(m) Safety watch towers and beach safety equipment;
(n) Beach layout, environment information boards, and other signages;
(o) Fencing, preferably vegetative;
(p) Parking facilities;
(q) Entry gate, tourist facilitation center; and
(r) Other associated facilities or infrastructure, as per requirements of Blue Flag Certification.
What do people say about the beach:
“We have been to other beaches also. But this beach at Kasarkod is very beautiful. Like its name says it is the eco beach. We liked the cleanliness. Also after enjoying the sea, there is a proper place to have a bath and dress,” Ravi Sharma, a person from Honnavar, who frequently visits the beach told The Canara Post.
Blue flag beaches in the country:
- Shivrajpur (Gujarat)
- Ghoghla (Diu)
- Padubidri (Karnataka)
- Kasarkod (Karnataka)
- Kappad (Kerala)
- Rushikonda (Andhra)
- Golden (Odisha)
- Radhanagar (Andaman).
