After many speculations, BSF’s camel-mounted band, tattoo show and camel polo is ready to entertain at forthcoming Jaisalmer desert festival. The camels will reach Jaisalmer in next one or two days.
After reports that the BSF’s camel band may not participate in the festival this time, the state government and district administration after a lot of efforts have resolved the dispute between BSF and tourism department over giving funds for transportation of camels. It was agreed to give some money for the BSF welfare fund.
It may be mentioned that BSF Rajasthan frontier had demanded Rs 10 lakh for BSF welfare fund for transportation of camels and instruments of band. The district administration and the tourism department not having such a huge fund, had expressed their inability to pay after which BSF refused to give its camels for the desert festival.
As through desert festival, the fame of camels has spread to the entire world and it also promotes tourism, the BSF never takes any money from the tourism department. The trained camels and jawans of BSF perform aerobatics and camel polo match that enthrall the tourists.
“Huge expenses are incurred on transportation of camels and their fodder and apart from repair of old instruments and purchase of new instruments used in camel mounted band. We had demanded Rs 10 lakh as compensation of the expenses incurred,” IG Meena said.
He said tourism department gets budget allotted for desert festival and apart from this, the department by getting this programme sponsored could pay BSF.
District collector NL Meena said, “BSF have been persuaded and some amount will be given for their welfare fund. BSF has started preparations to bring camels to Jaisalmer and this time too, BSF camels and camel mounted band would enthrall the tourists.”
src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/BSF-camel-band-all-set-to-enthrall-at-desert-fest/articleshow/30129330.cms