Puri: The Puri beach in Odisha has received the coveted Blue Flag certification by FEE Denmark, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed today. The beach got the prestigious tag by conforming to the stringent environmental norm and ensuring world class sustainable tourist amenities, the CM said.On the occasion, Puri Collector Balwant Singh thanked the people of the town, district administration officials and those involved in the ‘Mo Beach’ campaign. He also sought the cooperation of everyone in maintaining the tag. A beach has to meet 33 criteria fixed by the Foundation for Environment Education (FEE), Denmark to get the tag.
Notably, the 870-metre stretch of the beach from Digabareni square to the backside of Mayfair Hotel has been developed as Blue Flag beach under the World Bank-funded Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) of the State Forest and Environment Department and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Public toilets, changing and shower rooms, watch towers, solar lighting system, sitting arrangements, demarcation of safe swimming zone, approach road, fencing with plantation, jogging track etc. have been developed on the stretch.