Goa’s most important selling point when it comes to tourism is its beautiful coastline. From North to South, the state is dotted with a number of beaches, some more popular than others. In Panjim, there is the famous Miramar beach which is visited by hundreds of locals as well as tourists almost all year round. It may be recalled that the GTDC had revealed plans to garner a Blue Flag certification for certain beaches in Goa in order to promote tourism further. However, this plan which was supposed to have been put into action more than 6 months ago, somehow never came to fruition. But this seems to have restarted and according to recent news reports, the ever famous Miramar beach could get Blue Flag certified soon. Within the next one year, Miramar beach is going to get a makeover like no beach in Goa has ever had before.
Miramar beach to get a makeover in the next one year
The Blue Flag certification is a prestigious qualification established by the Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in 1985. FEE’s Blue Flag criteria include standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management criteria. The Blue Flag is sought for beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards.
That being said, Miramar beach is now in the running to get a complete makeover to meet with such standards. There are plans to introduce a single entry point, solar panel plant as well as walkable bridges. Other changes to the landscape of the beach will include watch towers for lifeguards made from bamboo and even a boardwalk trail across the existing Casuarina trees.
Miramar beach has been picked for this makeover project in a bid to enhance safety and cleanliness on the beach front. Given its popularity, the beach is the permanent victim of unruly tourists and even locals that litter the sand as well as the water and cause a nuisance to the remaining public. The concerned authorities want to turn things around by attaining the prestigious Blue Flag certification.
Tenders are to be floated for all services pertaining to the makeover of Miramar beach
The Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the aegis of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has floated a tender of Rs 9.28 crore for the project. This tender invites bidders for providing basic and other infrastructure facilities including pollution abatement and safety/surveillance services in line with the best practices internationally.
Some of the services which are a requirement in the tender are mechanized walk-behind machines to be used for cleaning pathways, the beach area and even the parking area of any garbage from plastic wrappers and bottles to even cigarette butts. Additionally, the tender extends to the provision of basic facilities and services that include bamboo-enclosed toilet blocks, changing rooms, shower panels, drinking water facility, bamboo seating benches, bamboo sit-out umbrellas, watchtower, solid waste management plant, jogging track or pathway, outdoor fitness equipment, off-grid solar power plant, street lights, beach information board and beach map. The Navhind Times has more information on the tenders being floated. Read up on it here.
Information credit
http://www.navhindtimes.in/miramar-beach-to-get-facelift/
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