Lok Sabha Question No. 2769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Blue Flag Programme for Beaches
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana, Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy, Pocha Brahmananda Reddy, Goddeti Madhavi, Kotagiri Sridhar, Beesetti  Venkata Satyavathi, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Chandra Sekhar Bellana, Adala Prabhakara Reddy, Midhun Reddy, Reddeppa Nallakonda Gari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2769

TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2021

## Blue Flag Programme for Beaches

2769.   SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA:

SHRI MAGUNTA SREENIVASULU REDDY:

SHRI POCHA BRAHMANANDA REDDY:

SHRIMATI GODDETI MADHAVI:

SHRI SRIDHAR KOTAGIRI:

DR. BEESETTI VENKATA SATYAVATHI:

SHRI LAVU SRI KRISHNA DEVARAYALU:

SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR BELLANA:

SHRI ADALA PRABHAKARA REDDY:

SHRI P.V. MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI N. REDDEPPA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) The details regarding progress made under the Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas;
- (b) the total number of beaches in the country currently having the Blue Flag certification, Beach-wise and State /UT-wise;
- (c) the details of assistance being provided to boost tourism at Rushikonda Beach in Vishakhapatnam which was recently awarded the Blue Flag certification; and
- (d) the details of other such measures being taken for boosting eco-tourism in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)&(b) The Ministry has embarked upon a programme for 'Blue Flag' Certification for select beaches in the country.  Out of 10 beaches, works at 8 beaches have completed and works are  under  progress  at  two  beachesnamely;  Kovalam  beach  (Tamil  Nadu)  and  Eden  beach (Puducherry).

Total 8 beaches having Blue Flag Certificates in the country which are Ghoghala Beach (Daman &Diu), Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat), Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnataka), Kappad beach

(Kerala),Rushikonda  beach  (Andhra  Pradesh),  Golden  beach  (Odisha),  and  Radhanagar  beach (Andaman & Nicobar Islands)

(c) Rushikonda beach has been provided a financial assistant of Rs. 6.15 Cr. in FY 20182020 and provision of Rs.2.41 Cr in FY 2020-21 is made out of which Rs. 1.66 Cr expenditure has been incurred for Rushikonda beach. Beside the above, technical supports for achieving Blue Flag criteria has been given by the Ministry to State Government.

(d) Under  ICZM  (Phase-I)  Project,  beach  cleaning activity  at  Dandi  Beach,  Marine Interpretation Centres, Sea turtle hatchery at Okha Madhi and Mandvi have been completed in Gujarat. Eco-tourism infrastructures at four location around Chilika lake in Odisha completed. Several initiatives such as Beachfront development includes Beach Beautification, construction of  watch  towers,  Beach  amenity  have  been  carried  out  at  Digha  Beach  in  West  Bengal.EcoTourism complex has also been constructed consisting of 14 small eco-huts, 8 large tented huts, an eating house, a toilet block, reception block and a dormitory block in Sagar Island, in West Bengal.

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