Puri: Jatani MLA Suresh Kumar Routray has opposed the state government’s move to get Blue Flag Beach certification for three more beaches in the district.
Speaking to media persons after attending a meeting of Puri Belabhumi Suraksha Samiti (Puri Beach Protection Committee) on the issue, Routray said the Blue Flag status to the beaches will deprive hundreds of small traders of their source of income. Since these traders depend on the beach for their livelihood, the state government should look into their plight.
“Puri is a sacred place and the government should protect the heritage sites including the beaches in the district. Besides, after the transformation of the beach, the people who earn their livelihood from it would be displaced,” said the Congress MLA.
The coveted Blue Flag certification was awarded to Puri beach by Copenhagen-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) on October 11 last year.
Following this, chief minister Naveen Patnaik last month announced to develop five more beaches along Odisha coast to get the tag to give a boost to their tourism prospects.
The beaches that have been selected for the purpose include Pati Sonapur and Haripur in Ganjam district and Muhan, Niladri, and Jahania in Puri district.
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