Hajj camp preparations on a sluggish pace

The Hajj Camp will begin in less than a month, but there are hardly any signs of preparation taking place in the Hajj House for the pilgrims. More over the new Hajj Committee that was meant to be formed sometime ago, after the previous one dissolved on August 15, has not yet come into existence. A meeting involving officers of the municipality, customs, electricity, and police departments, is supposed to be held every year atleast a month before the camp. But this year, it is yet to see the light of the day.

While 7-8 members find it challenging, it is very difficult for a single executive officer to take care of the proceedings in the absence of a committee.

Usually by this time, tents are arranged in the open space of the Hajj House building. But this year, space is a constraint as the area around the building is filled with construction debris of a commercial complex that is being built by the Wakf Board.

Ahmed Nadeem, secretary, Minority Welfare Department, has asked the Urdu Academy and Minority Finance Corporation to vacate their floors and find another room, on the request of the Hajj Committee, so that two floors can be allotted for the stay of pilgrims. But the question is what if the Urdu Academy and MFC don’t find a place to shift their office. Where will the arrangements be made?

Two years ago, officer M A Hameed, said that a new Hajj House can be built and an area of land belonging to the Wakf Board was being considered, for which an amount of Rs 12 crore was sanctioned. Since the land is under litigation, further action could not be taken.

A source says, if the boundary walls of the commercial building can be extended by the government, which is possible in a short span; two floors of the building can be utilised for lodging of the devotees. The secretary of the Department of Minority Welfares suggested formation of the new committee or the appointment of an ad hoc committee for an interim period. The Hajj Camp would start from September 23 and the flights would take off on September 25.