Devanampattinam Silver Beach in Cuddalore district has received Blue Flag certification for the 2026–2027 season, placing the Tamil Nadu shoreline among beaches recognised for meeting international standards in water quality, cleanliness, safety, sanitation and coastal management.
District collector Sibi Adhithya Senthil Kumar announced the certification, with the official accreditation certificate received on November 12. The recognition has been awarded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which administers the Blue Flag eco-label.
Silver Beach is one of three beaches in Tamil Nadu to receive the certification for the 2026–2027 season. Kameswaram Beach in Nagapattinam district and Ariyaman Beach in Ramanathapuram district were also newly recognised. Kovalam Beach in Chengalpattu district retained its Blue Flag status for the sixth consecutive year.
The Cuddalore corporation carried out infrastructure and environmental upgrades along a one-kilometre stretch of Devanampattinam beach. Of this, a 500-metre zone has been upgraded to meet the Blue Flag benchmarks. The work was implemented under the guidance of the district collector and coordinated by corporation commissioner Kishan Kumar, according to the report.
Water quality is being monitored at five points by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management. The monitoring system is intended to provide regular assessment of seawater conditions within the certified beach zone, one of the central requirements of the international accreditation.
The upgraded section has twice-daily cleaning drives supported by beach-cleaning machinery. It also has source-segregated collection for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, bio-toilets, reverse-osmosis drinking water facilities and grey-water recycling systems. These measures bring essential public-service infrastructure into the management of a high-footfall coastal space, rather than treating the beach only as a tourism destination.
Visitor safety provisions include dedicated lifeguards, first-aid stations, rescue equipment, closed-circuit television cameras and public-address systems. The beach has also added ramps, specialised restrooms and dedicated parking for people with disabilities. Educational display boards cover coastal flora, fauna and sea-turtle conservation.
The certification therefore combines environmental criteria with operational requirements. A Blue Flag beach must be maintained through regular cleaning, sanitation, visitor safety arrangements, accessibility measures and public awareness. In Cuddalore, these responsibilities involve the corporation, the district administration, environmental agencies and the beach management committee.
The beach management committee, headed by the district collector, will continue to oversee upkeep and administration in coordination with line departments. This arrangement places ongoing monitoring at the centre of the certification, as the status depends not only on the initial infrastructure upgrades but also on continued compliance during the certified season.
The collector credited the corporation, the department of environment and climate change’s Green Fellow, government agencies and the public for the achievement. He described the recognition as a landmark step in Cuddalore’s efforts towards eco-friendly tourism and coastal preservation.
