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Govt to build Haj House near airport
Calcutta, India: The state government has decided to construct a multi-storeyed Haj House exclusively for Haj pilgrims on VIP road, at stones throw from the airport.Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who is also the minister-in-charge of minority welfare, will lay the foundation of this sprawling seven-storey building project covering 16 cottah of prime land. The states Muslims have always complained about shoddy treatment meted out to them by airline companies during Haj. This time, too, the Hajis, who have been returning from the pilgrimage over the week have been victims of erratic flights. The state PWD has put Mackintosh Burn on the job. The building will come up near Kaikhali on VIP Road. "Well complete it in two years. Around Rs 7 crore will be spent on construction which is aimed at providing comfort rather than luxury," Nilmoni Dhar, managing director, Mackintosh Burn, said. The building will accommodate at least 800 Hajis during November and December. For the rest of the year, it will serve as a vocational training centre. Md Soleman Biswas, councillor, Rajarhat-Gopalpur municipality, and member, West Bengal Haj Committee, said, "Haj training will also be conducted here. In 1996, then chief minister Jyoti Basu had a Haj House constructed on Dilkhusa Street. But thats too small." Abdus Sattar, minister of state for minority welfare, said, "The plight of the pilgrims who take the Centres so-called subsidized Haj flights has led us to sanction this project immediately. The Hajis, perpetually on erratic flights, are forced to stay here overnight." Posted by: john frum 2007-12-30 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=216319 |