Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 16: A team of experts formed by the Central government to make necessary preparations for identifying and getting the international Blue Flag tags for the beaches, have chosen five beaches of the state including Dakshina Kannada beaches, Tannirbavi and Iddya near Suratkal, among others. They will be prepared for the Blue Flag recognition in the second phase.

Kundapur Kody in Udupi district, Murudeshwar in Uttara Kannada and Karwar are the three other beaches chosen for the second phase Blue Flag certifications.

Once all the infrastructure is developed, these beaches will apply for the Blue Flag recognition. Talapady seashore has lost out in the race because of the sea erosion that is rampant there. The experts have also visited Bengre and Panambur beaches to assess their chances in the second phase.

The department concerned has identified 104 beaches in Karnataka coast. Out of them, 16 have been recommended as high-quality centres. The ministry of environment, forest and climate change of the Central government and National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management have deputed these experts. After applying rigid yardsticks, these experts have finally chosen beaches for the second round.

The other beaches under consideration are Malpe, Om, Nirvana, Apsarakonda, Kudle, Ravindranath Tagore, Gokarna, Murudeshwar, Devabagh, Padukere, Paduvari, Someshwar, Talapady, Harvada and Majali. The Central government plans to develop infrastructure in 100 beaches known as 'Big 100' in the country. The Centre will extend financial assistance for these projects through the World Bank. In the first phase, Padubidri in Udupi, Kasargod in Uttara Kannada and eight other beaches have been given Blue Flag accreditation by International Board of Denmark. 92 more beaches are yet to be chosen for his honour.