By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kozhikode: The Hajj pilgrims from Kerala are likely to be left to suffer owing to the temporary closure of Calicut International Airport for repairing workers. The State Hajj Committee in a meeting on March 22 has decided to approach the Central Aviation Ministry seeking postpone of the repairing works to the post Hajj season.
Briefing the decisions, Hajj Committee chairman Kottumala Bapu Musliyar told Twocricles.net that the committee was not sure about making the airport the embarkation point of the pilgrimage.
“The Nedumbassery International Airport at Kochi is likely to turn as the embarkation point for Hajj pilgrims from Kerala, Mahe and Lakshwadweep this year. As per the decision taken in the meeting of the State Hajj Committee, held here at Hajj House on Saturday, the Hajj camp will be shifted to Nedumbassery if wide-bodied aircraft will not be allowed to operate from Karipur Airport,” he said.
Minister P K Kunhalikkutty inaugurating the draw of lot for selecting the Haj pilgrims of this year at Karippur Haj House
“Our prime priority is to operate Hajj services from Karipur. But the plan will be confronted with the decision of the Airport Authority of India to close down the airport for repairing and re-carpeting works,” he said.
“Though the AAI has conveyed their inconvenience to operate the wide-wing body aircrafts from the airport we will seek a favourable approach from the Union Aviation Ministry. Unless permission is granted to operate big air crafts the Hajj trips couldn’t be operated from the airport as big aircrafts with huge capacity is used for the service,” he said.
Bapu Musliyar said committee also decided to set up a temporary full-fledged Hajj camp with Nedumbassery Airport with requisite facilities.
Meanwhile, various organisations like Kerala Pravasi League, Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre and Malabar Chamber of Commerce demanded the authorities to postpone the repairing works to ease the sufferings of the pilgrims from Malabar.
“Malabar is the area, from where largest numbers of pilgrims go to Mecca for Hajj. They will have to go all the way to Kochi for the trip. Besides, the facilities, offered in Kozhikode, are unlikely to be ensured by the authorities in Kochi,” they said.
Meanwhile, draw of lots for Hajj was held at Hajj House. Minister for Industries PK Kunjalikkutty inaugurated. As many as 703 applicants were selected for the pilgrimage through the draw of lots in the general category.
As many as 4930 applicants were already selected in two reserved categories-1868 with above 70 years of age and 3062 applicants, who had unsuccessfully applied for the past four years. A total 5633 pilgrims were selected from the total 65186 applications, received by the Hajj Committee.
Hajj committee chairman said there were around 1000 deserved applicants in waiting list. “Applicants in the waiting list will be allotted opportunity as per the availability of seats,” he said.
K Mohammedunni Haji MLA, district collector K Biju and Hajj Committee Assistant Secretary E C Mohammed also attended the function.