Camel rides back at Sam, strike ends after seven days

JAISALMER: The strike of guides to camel riders at Sam sand dunes in Jaisalmer ended on Sunday after continuing for seven days. The guides, police and district administration reaching an agreement brought good news for tourists, who thoroughly enjoyed camel riding.
The guides were protesting against district administration installing a fence around Sam sand dunes to stop undesired activities and lapkas and their decision to start prepaid camel safari.District collector Vishwamohan Sharma, SP Rajiv Pachar, circle officer Narendra Dave discussed the matter with tourism businessmen's representatives and agreed on 16 points, the fencing area and the route of camels.
Sam businessmen have asked time till October 31 to follow all the 16 points they have agreed on. The guides staged a protest to request the administration to remove the fencing that can result in the camels getting entangled in it and falling down.
Sunday was a wonderful day for tourists with Palace on Wheels coming to Jaisalmer and tourists being able to finally enjoy camel rides at Sam sand dunes after the strike was called off. After reaching an agreement, the district administration decided to stop the fencing work for three months. They had installed the fence for 3 kms and 1km area is left.
Few of the points in the agreement include no misbehaving with any tourist, keeping the sand dunes clean, installing CCTV cameras and not charging the tourists more than the prescribed rate and many more. Sharma said they will keep a strict watch on the guides for three months in the entire Sam area .
The strike has caused losses in lakhs. Tourists had stopped coming to Sam sand dunes for the last six days due to strike and they rather went to Khuhadi sand dunes. The estimated loss is Rs 40-50 lakh.