PANAJI
Seven years after Goa’s first attempt at securing the prestigious Blue Flag certification unravelled amid protests and court battles, the State is preparing a fresh bid -- this time steering clear of the controversy that engulfed Miramar beach and turning its attention to two quieter stretches of coastline in North and South Goa.
Official sources told The Goan that the Department of Tourism has shortlisted Mandrem beach and Galgibag beach for nomination under the internationally recognised Blue Flag Certification programme.
The move marks another effort by the State to place at least one of its beaches among the world's environmentally certified coastal destinations after the collapse of the Miramar proposal.
Sources added that as part of the preparatory process, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has been tasked with regular monitoring of seawater quality at both beaches. The exercise will focus on designated stretches of about 400-500 meters identified as safe swimming zones by the National Institute of Water Sports.
“Officials have proposed collecting and analysing three water samples every month from each location. Monitoring will continue through the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons to assess seasonal variations in water quality and identify any issues before scrutiny by the national-level Blue Flag Secretariat,” the official said.
The certification, administered internationally, requires beaches to meet stringent benchmarks on environmental management, bathing water quality, safety, sustainability and public awareness. Compliance is assessed through a detailed set of criteria covering everything from waste management and water quality to visitor facilities and ecological protection.
For Goa, the renewed push revives an ambition that first surfaced in 2018 when Miramar was among 12 Indian beaches nominated under the Union government's Blue Flag initiative. Traditional Ramponkar fishermen opposed the project, arguing that the proposed infrastructure would interfere with their livelihood and gradually privatise public beach space. Environmental groups raised concerns about the impact on sand dunes and coastal habitats, while activists questioned the absence of wider public consultation.
The dispute eventually reached the High Court of Bombay at Goa, which intervened after petitions challenged both the approval process and regulatory relaxations linked to the project. The court stayed and later quashed aspects of the certification process, effectively bringing the Miramar proposal to a halt.
At the centre of the legal battle were amendments issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2019 that relaxed Coastal Regulation Zone norms for Blue Flag beaches. The changes permitted facilities such as toilet blocks, changing rooms, drinking-water kiosks, watch towers, waste-management units and solar-powered infrastructure to be installed as close as 10 mtrs from the High Tide Line.
