The Hindu : New Delhi News : Union Cabinet rejects proposal to raise air fare for Haj pilgrims

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Saturday, Nov 03, 2007
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New Delhi

Union Cabinet rejects proposal to raise air fare for Haj pilgrims

Special Correspondent

“In keeping with UPA Government’s commitment to Muslim welfare”

Overall Haj subsidy provided by the Government to go up now from Rs. 343 crore to 368 crore
Varanasi will be included as a new embarkation point for Haj pilgrims from now on

NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday shot down a proposal to raise the air fare for Haj pilgrims this year. It will remain unchanged at Rs. 12,000 for the round trip to Jeddah and Medina.

Union Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi said the Cabinet did not agree to the proposed fare rise “in keeping with the commitment of the United Progressive Alliance government to protect and promote the welfare of the Muslim community”.The proposal was to increase the fare to Rs. 16,000 in view of the steep increase in global fuel prices and the imposition of an airport tax of 50 riyal per pilgrim by Saudi Arabia.

The fare of Rs. 12,000 has remained in force for 13 years since 1994. Now the overall subsidy provided by the Union Government for the Haj pilgrims would go up from Rs. 343 crore to Rs. 368 crore.

Varanasi would be included as an embarkation point for Haj 2007. About 1.1 lakh pilgrims will be covered this year. Up to 59,000 pilgrims will be transported by the Saudi Arabian Airlines from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Ahmedabad and the others by Air India from Lucknow, Varanasi, Jaipur, Srinagar, Patna, Kolkata, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Guwahati, and Kozhikode.

“India is the only country in the subcontinent to send such a big number of Haj pilgrims,” Mr. Dasmunsi said.

River management

Chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet meeting also gave in-principle approval for a project to take up river management, flood control, anti-erosion works, drainage development and flood-proofing in the entire country. It would be implemented through State governments and monitored by the Ganga Flood Board and the Central Water Commission.

The progress of the works would be evaluated with remote-sensing techniques and through an independent agency.

Jute board Bill

The Cabinet decided to pursue the National Jute Board Bill in Parliament, moving amendments to incorporate the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee for expanding the functions and membership of the Board.

The Cabinet also approved the introduction of a Bill to provide for placing of annual reports and audited accounts of Central universities in Parliament.

The Central universities which were recently set up were already mandated to place their annual reports and audited accounts in the two Houses. With the new Bill, old universities would also be required to do so.

AIIMS chief tenure

Asked about a proposal for an ordinance to fix the term for heads of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Chandigarh-based Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Mr. Dasmunsi said the AIIMS and the PGIMER Bill, which is already before Parliament, would be taken up as the first item for passage during the winter session.

The Bill seeks to fix the term of the directors at five years or till the age of 65, whichever is earlier.

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