By Nageshwar Patnaiik in Bhubaneswark, November 16, 2025: Odisha’s Sunapur and Puri beaches have again received the prestigious ‘Blue Flag’ certification for the year 2025-26. Sunapur beach has received this honour for the third consecutive time, while Puri’s Golden Beach has been included in the list for the seventh time.

The Danish organisation ‘Foundation for Environmental Education’ (FEE) gives this certification. It indicates that the beaches are clean, environmentally sustainable and safe for tourists. 13 beaches across the country have received this certification, of which 12 have received this status fully and one (Eden Beach in Puducherry) has received this status with conditions. Two beaches in Odisha have received this certification fully.

The Blue Flag is a global eco-label awarded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It is awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable sailing destinations that adhere to 33 strict standards, including: Water Quality, environmental management, Safety Standards, Eco-education and awareness. Only those coastal areas that consistently maintain high levels of cleanliness and safety receive this certification.

Sunapur Beach (Ganjam District) Certified for the third consecutive year for its clean sand, river-sea confluence, and community-based conservation efforts, eco-sensitive design based on regular waste audits, water quality testing and beach cleanups while Puri Golden Beach, one of the major pilgrimage and tourist destinations of India has bagged seventh consecutive Blue Flag recognition.

About 13 beaches of India included in the Blue Flag list. Of these, 12 received full certification, including Sunapur and Puri in Odisha. Officials attributed the success to the involvement of local communities, strict adherence to waste management systems, and investment in green tourism infrastructure. In Sunapur, the conservation efforts of the local administration and villagers were particularly noteworthy.