JOIN USFunds crunch may hit Haj pilgrimage this year
Haj pilgrims from the state might face fund crunch this year as the state government has not been able to withdraw the money deposited in City’s Amanath Co-operative Bank in December 2012.
The money meant for the pilgrimage has been deposited in the bank by an executive officer of the Haj Committee in violation of rules.
Replying to Mumtaz Ali Khan (BJP), during the question hour, the Minister for Minority Welfare, Haj and Wakf, Qamar-ul Islam said that despite the Haj Committee’s decision at a meeting on March 1, 2012 to transfer the Rs 2.29 crores to Union Bank of India, the official decided to keep the amount in savings account in Amanath Bank. Later, Rs two crore was converted as fixed deposit for a period of three months on December 21, 2012.
However, with the Reserve Bank of India restricting the withdrawal of money from the said bank, the state government is now rendered helpless as the money meant for Haj pilgrims is stuck in the bank that too during the pilgrimage season.
“The restriction is in place since past three months. We tried many times to withdraw the money and have not been successful,” the minister explained.
When Khan said that the promotion of the officer be held back for acting in violation of the Haj committee norms, Islam said he will personally write to Department of Personal and Administrative Reforms to initiate action against the officer. He exuded confidence that the government will be able to withdraw the money.
The minister, replying to Syed Mudeer Aga (Cong), said the survey of the Wakf properties will be complete by March 2014. Aga had questioned why the survey, which should be done once in 20 years is going on at a snail pace since last eight years. The survey is nearly 70 per cent complete, Islam added.