Overview
- Three Konkan beaches — Ladghar and Guhagar in Ratnagiri district and Shrivardhan in Raigad district — have been awarded Blue Flag status for the 2026–27 season, the first time any Maharashtra sites have been certified.
- The International Blue Flag Jury granted the awards after inspecting water quality, cleanliness, biodiversity protection, safety measures, infrastructure, accessibility and local management systems.
- The official Blue Flag flags are being shipped from the Netherlands and state officials plan flag‑hoisting ceremonies to mark the start of the certified season.
- Maharashtra credited coordinated work by the Environment and Climate Change Department, the Tourism Department, district administrations, local bodies and beach committees, and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde said the awards will raise the coastline’s global profile and support local employment.
- The Blue Flag label is issued by the Foundation for Environmental Education through a UN‑backed jury, is valid for one season with annual renewal, and the State says it will invest in water testing, waste management, safety infrastructure and management systems to expand the programme to more beaches.