International Coastal Clean-Up Day is celebrated across 100 countries since 1986 on third Saturday in September. In 2020, it was celebrated on 19 September.
This aims to encourage the people to clean up the garbage plaguing beaches around the world & to protect & preserve the water bodies.
On this occasion, at a virtual event Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change announced that for the first time eight beaches of India are recommended for the coveted International eco-label, the Blue flag certification. Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches of the world.
The eight beaches are:
Shivrajpur in Gujarat, Ghoghla in Daman & 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.
The event also saw the launch India’s own eco-label BEAMS by e-hoisting the flag simultaneously at these eight beaches.
“Society of Integrated Coastal Management” (SICOM) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in pursuit of promoting its policies for sustainable development in coastal regions has embarked upon a highly acclaimed program “BEAMS” under its Integrated Coastal Zone Management project.
The Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) activities in India were launched to protect and conserve the coastal and marine ecosystems and environment through a holistic coastal management, the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change.
Objective of BEAMS:
The main objective of setting up of BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetic Management System) programme is to promote sustainable development in coastal regions of India for the beach management authorities to strive to achieve high international standards in four categories of:
- Environmental Management including cleanliness, solid waste management in beaches
- Environment Education
- Safety & Security of Beach goers
- Bathing Water Quality Standards