Eight beaches in India have reportedly been awarded the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ certification. The certification is granted after following stringent criteria. The beaches need to have portable toilet blocks, changing rooms and shower panels. Solid waste management, solar power plant, purified water facility, beach access pathway, landscaping, lighting, benches, CCTV surveillance, fitness equipment, parking facility, first-aid station, fencing, etc are among the other criteria put forth by the certification authority. One of the main conditions for this certification is clear blue water. The primary reason for not having clear blue water at Indian beaches is the rivers and the terrain on which these rivers run. Turquoise blue waters come from the islands. Islands do not have rivers. Rivers bring in sediment and turbulence which keeps the sediments afloat. Hence water at Indian beaches is brown and not blue in colour.
