BHUBANESWAR: The Puri administration has dropped its plan of developing another Blue Flag beach in the tourist town owing to stiff opposition by beach vendors.
“We were planning to develop a Blue Flag standard beach in Chakratirtha. But we will not go for the Blue Flag certification for the Chakratirtha beach to protect the livelihood of beach vendors,” said collector (Puri) Samarth Verma.
Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) had granted the coveted Blue Flag certification to Puri Golden beach (870-metre stretch between Digabareni Square and Mayfair hotel), a first in Odisha on October 11, 2020. It has tourist-friendly amenities, including beach huts, jogging track, toilets, chairs and safe bathing zone.
“We were planning to develop a Blue Flag standard beach in Chakratirtha. But we will not go for the Blue Flag certification for the Chakratirtha beach to protect the livelihood of beach vendors,” said collector (Puri) Samarth Verma.
Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) had granted the coveted Blue Flag certification to Puri Golden beach (870-metre stretch between Digabareni Square and Mayfair hotel), a first in Odisha on October 11, 2020. It has tourist-friendly amenities, including beach huts, jogging track, toilets, chairs and safe bathing zone.