Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today chaired a high-level meeting to review arrangements put in place by State Hajj Committee and various State and Central Government departments for smooth conduct of Hajj.
Mehbooba Mufti was earlier unanimously elected as the new Chairperson of J&K State Hajj Committee.
Following her election as the Chairperson, the Chief Minister nominated Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, Syed Farooq Andrabi as Vice-Chairperson of the State Hajj Committee.
Minister of State for Hajj and Auqaf, Syed Farooq Andrabi, members of the State Hajj Committee including Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, MLA, Javaid Hassan Baig, MLA, Shah Muhammad Tantray, MLA, Saif-ud-Din Bhat, MLC, Moulana Riyaz-ul-Haq Noorabadi, Khateeb Jamia Masjid Ziyarat Yaqoob Sarfi Sahab (RA), Sonawar, Mehboob Iqbal, retired IAS Officer, Dr Nisar Ahmad Wani, Social Worker and Syed Qamar Sajad, Executive Officer, SHC, (Ex-officio Member) were present.
Immediately, after her nomination as the Chairperson of the State Hajj Committee, Mehbooba received comprehensive brief, at a joint meeting of the members of the SHC and top officers of civil and police administration, on the arrangements made for Hajj.
She emphasized on ensuring all the requisite facilities for pilgrims to and fro as also during their stay in Saudi Arabia. She said all agencies responsible for the conduct of Hajj should work in close coordination to render best services to the pilgrims.
To facilitate Hajj pilgrims, the Chief Minister asked the Executive Officer, State Hajj Committee to ensure that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience particularly under prevailing circumstances and their stay at Hajj House Bemina should be made comfortable.
“Proper arrangements need to be in place to ensure hassle-free stay as well as movement of pilgrims from other districts to the Hajj House, Srinagar and from there to the Srinagar International Airport”, she said.
While receiving detailed appraisal, the Chief Minister was informed that over 32,000 applications for Hajj were received this year. As on date 6457 seats have been allotted to the State under various categories.
The Hajj flights from Srinagar to Madina Munnawarrah will commence from August 10 upto August 19. A total number of 20 flights with two flights per day, one at 9 am and another at 2:30 pm will operate during these days and each flight will carry 340 pilgrims.
For receiving foreign exchange (Saudi Riyal), State Bank of India will establish a counter at a designated space in Srinagar Airport, besides special counters for additional foreign exchange facility will be established by J&K Bank, SBI and HDFC Bank.
The Chief Minister called for ensuring adequate arrangements in advance at the Srinagar Airport with regard to immigration clearance/customs, refreshment, ablution and prayer facilities etc.
To ensure that Khudam-ul-Hujaj perform their duties with utmost care, Mehbooba asked the State Hajj Committee that advance team of officers of the State Government should be sent to Saudi Arabia and best possible arrangements should be put in place with regard to accommodation and transportation facilities there and any other assistance and logistic support needed by the pilgrims.
This year, 32 Khudam-ul-Hujaj are being sent from the State to handhold the Hajj Pilgrims in the Holy Land. Besides, adequate numbers of volunteers are also being deployed for assisting the pilgrims at the Hajj House and the Srinagar Airport. The Chief Minister directed the concerned department to enhance the daily remuneration of the volunteers being deployed for the purpose from Rs 300 to Rs 500.
Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, Incharge Director General of Police, S K Mishra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Navin Kumar Choudhary, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Khan, IGP Kashmir, IGP Security, Kashmir, IGP Traffic and other senior officers of civil and police administration were also present in the meeting.
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