Centre to set up two committees for Haj pilgrims

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) The Centre has decided to set up two high-level committees, including one headed by the Cabinet Secretary, to suggest measures for providing better facilities to over 155,000 Haj pilgrims, who are going to undertake the annual pilgrimage this year.

Announcing this at the All India Annual Conference for the Haj, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the other committee would be chaired by Mr Hamid Ansari, Chairman of the Minorities Commission, to ensure a hassle-free pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.

He said there had been complaints of sub-standard accommodation, transportation as well as delay in flights.

''We are looking into all these matters to make the system fool-proof,'' he added.

The conference was attended by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia M A Farook, Chairman of the Central Haj Committee Mohammed Iqbal Sardogi and ministers of various state governments, besides the Haj Committee chairman.

After getting clearance from the Supreme Court, Mr Mukherjee announced that subsidy on air transport would continue. He said there would be no increase in the Haj quota this year.

While 110,000 pilgrims would go through the Central Haj Committee, the remaining 47,000 will perform the pilgrimage through tour operators.

Mr Praful Patel announced that special Haj flights would start from Varanasi, taking Haj embarkation points to 12. He also assured the conference that flights might also be operated from Bhopal in near future.

The Haj Committee Chairman said that arrangements were being made to provide best available accommodation for the Indian pilgrims. In this connection, he referred to difficulties being faced in getting accommodation close to the Holy Ka'ba because of expansion of the Holy Mosque by the Saudi government.

Among the suggestions made at the meeting was joint operation of flights by Air India and Saudia for this year's Haj pilgrims. Also, Saudia should provide a dedicated computer terminal at Mecca and Medina for change of flight dates on genuine reasons for the pilgrims returning after performing the Haj.

Further, there should not be more than three flights a da, except in case of Mumbai and Delhi embarkation points.

UNI