Context:
Rushikonda Beach has regained its prestigious Blue Flag certification
Rushikonda Beach:
- Location – Andhra Pradesh, along the Bay of Bengal coast.
- Known as“Hill of the Sages.”
- Hosts the ancient Sapta Rusheswara Temple, surrounded by seven hills.
- Blue Flag Certification – Received this recognition in 2020 but was temporarily revoked due to issues with environmental management and hygiene.
- It is the only Blue Flag-certified beach in Andhra Pradesh
Blue Flag Certification:
- An eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, or sustainable boating tourism operators for meeting environmental and safety standards.
- Granted by Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
- Criteria – Based on 33 parameters under 4 categories:
- Environmental education and information
- Bathing water quality
- Environmental management,
- Conservation and safety services.
- Judged by a panel including UNEP, UNWTO, FEE, and IUCN.
- Renewal – Certification is updated yearly; sites must maintain criteria to retain the status.
- Globally, Spain leads with 729 Blue Flag sites, followed by Greece.
- In India, 13 beaches have received the Blue Flag status so far.
Source: TOI
Previous Year Question
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)