Visakhapatnam, the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh, is not only a hub for trade and commerce but also a major tourist destination, attracting visitors from across the country and abroad. In this context, the beaches along the Visakhapatnam coastline have been beautifully developed, and among them, Rishikonda Beach stands out as particularly special.
Rishikonda Beach had earned a prestigious recognition for its 600-meter shoreline, which was awarded the “Blue Flag” by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) from Denmark. This recognition highlighted the natural beauty of the area and the efforts taken by the government to preserve it. As a result, the Blue Flag certification and the flag itself became a major draw for tourists.
However, recently, the Blue Flag has been missing from the beach. Upon investigation, it was found that there are many reasons to lose the status . Stray dogs have been roaming freely, public restrooms and changing rooms are filled with unpleasant odors, and the overall cleanliness has deteriorated. Some tourists, distressed by these conditions, took photos of the situation and sent them directly to the FEE. After reviewing the images, the FEE revoked the Blue Flag recognition that had been granted to Rishikonda Beach in 2020. As a result, the prestigious Blue Flag has been removed.
In fact, the tourism sector in Andhra Pradesh has been experiencing a new surge under the current government, and investments in tourism have increased significantly. Jana Sena MLA Kandukur Durgesh, in his role as the Tourism Minister, has introduced new programs aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector. Despite these efforts, the revocation of the Blue Flag recognition for Rishikonda Beach comes as a surprise, especially under the new governance. While previous governments may have turned a blind eye to such damage, it is disheartening to see this occur under a government that claims to focus on such matters.
Given the situation, there is a strong argument that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Tourism Minister Kandukur Durgesh must take immediate action to restore Rishikonda Beach to its former glory and bring back its Blue Flag recognition.
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