DEVELOPMENT OF BLUE FLAG BEACH ON GUJARAT COASTLINE

Shivarajpur:

Shivarajpur is located 10 km from Shri Krishna place Dwarika of Devbhumi Dwarika district of Gujarat State. The beach is sandy with bay formation which provides adequate opportunity for beach tourism through blue flag concept. The beach is became more special with its coral formation and rocky substratum. These ecological significance adds more value for tourist point of view and environmental education point of view. The sea water is clam and blue with white sandy beach of about 7 km provide unique opportunity to develop this beach for coastal eco-tourism with blue flag concept.

Details of Feasibility studies:

Gujarat Ecology Commission has carried out detailed study on Coastal beaches of Gujarat. The information pertaining to various beaches under one report Coastline of Gujarat. This study provides the detailed of each of the beach selected above with its ecological significance and challenges.

Implementation agency:

The Gujarat Ecology Commission will act as implementing agency and will implement project through procurement procedures and instauration development with the help of local panchayat/Community based organisation. Gujarat Ecology Commission will establish a beach development committee. In addition to this for making project sustainable help of various line departments such as Forests & Tourism will also be taken. All the procurement will be carried out following World bank procurement process.

Basic design of the project:

The Blue Flag programme for beaches and marinas is run by the international, nongovernmental, non-profit organisation FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education). The Blue Flag programme was started in France in 1985. It has been operating in Europe since 1987 and in areas outside of Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined. Today, Blue Flag has become a truly global programme with an ever-increasing number of countries participating in the programme.

The Blue Flag programme promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas. It challenges local authorities and beach operators to achieve high standards in the four categories of: water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. Over the-years, the Blue Flag has become a highly respected and recognised eco-label working to bring together the tourism and environmental sectors at local, regional and national levels.

The blue flag beach programmes stand on two main principles. Environment Education and Sustainable infrastructure to promote sustainable tourism. Accordingly the entire proposal is being developed.

A Gujarat Ecology Commission will be establish a beach development committee involving local people based on recommendation of Gram Panchayat [local authority]. The beach development committee will implement the project in consultation with GEC.

Following activities are planned:

Sustainable Coastal Eco-tourism Development by establishment of various tourist infrastructures as mentioned below.

a. Parking Facility: Adequate parking facility will be planned and developed in near vicinity of beach to manage the footfalls and traffic during peak season.

b. Gazebos and Seating Places: Considering the beach length adequate gazebos and seating places will be developed with high standards and using eco-friendly materials.

c. Sanitation Management: Considering beach length adequate dustbins along with colour code will be placed over the beach to manage cleanliness of beach with ZERO LITTER CONCEPT. In addition to this adequate bio-toilets will be establish on beach considering peak season footfalls to cater the need of tourist and maintain hygiene standards of the cleanliness. A solid waste management shed also will be establish to recycle the litter and prepare bio-fertiliser which will be used in plantation near the beach considering zero waste concept. A small STP for Gram panchayat various eco-friendly such to waste to wealth concept, 4 R etc.

d. Shower and bathing Facilities: It is also proposed to meet with blue flag criteria a shower and bathing facilities will be developed on selected beaches with eco-friendly technologies. The use of water will be minimised through various eco-friendly concept.

e. Safety buoys: Towards the safety of tourist it is proposed that safety buoys will be placed within sea water on each of the selected beach.

f. Life Guard: It is proposed that local villagers will be trained and employee for life guards to provide adequate safety provisions. Life guard equipments will also be procured as part of the project as per need including life guard vehicle.

2. Environment Management: It is proposed that various activities will be taken up for maintaining environmental standards of selected beaches.

a. Study of Environmental Parameters: Every month environmental parameters of beach water and surroundings will be taken to maintain the quality of water and to decide various steps for maintaining environmental standards.

b. Plantation Drive: It is proposed that adequate green and shelter belt will be developed along with maintenance of existing vegetation patches. This shelter & green belt will add the ecological beauty to the beach and provide another attraction to beach lovers.

c. Water Conservation: It is proposed that various eco-friendly structures will be created for storage and recharge of ground water in nearby vicinity of selected beach. Rain roof water harvesting structure and Bhungaroo will be created to meet with water requirement over the beach. It is also proposed that bathroom and toilets water will be reused to meet with water requirement.

d. Environmental Education: During the course of blue flag programme environmental education camps will be organise for tourists and locals. In addition to this various communication campaigns will also be run for environmental education. Special programme for school children will also be organise. Adequate environmental education singes will be displayed.

3. Communication Campaign and Singes: Regular communication campaign will be carried out for creating awareness on blue flag criteria and conservation of beach.

a. Cleanliness Drive: Every quarter and specially during the peak seasons cleanliness drive will be organise to raise the awareness among the tourists and locals.

b. Singes: Blue Flag singes will be displayed on beach with adequate information. In addition to various singes showing dos & donts, water quality parameters as well as environmental and ecological awareness will also be displayed. It is also proposed that electronic singes will also be displayed.

c. Mass Media Campaign: Mass media campaign using print and electronic media will also be run during the course of blue flag programme to attract tourists and raise awareness for beach conservation.

d. Communication Material: It is proposed that adequate different communication material will be developed for information, education and communication of tourists.

Goals and Objectives

The goal of the blue flag beach project is to promote sustainable development of coastal areas consistent with the national objectives (i) To ensure livelihood security to fisher communities and other local communities living in coastal areas; (ii) To conserve and protect coastal stretches, its unique environment and its marine area and (iii) To promote development through sustainable manner based on scientific principles taking into account the dangers of natural hazards in the coastal areas, sea level rise due to global warming, as given in the preamble of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011.

Outputs of the project
- First time in India implementation of blue flag programme.
- Standardised process of blue flag beach.
- Sustainable coastal eco-tourism development.
- Environmental & ecological conservation of selected beach.
- Viable local organisation in place to maintain the blue flag beach programme.