Haj camp at MES college in Aluva

MALAPPURAM: The Kerala Haj Committee has decided to organize this year's annual Haj camp at Marampalli MES College in Aluva as the Cochin International Airport refused to provide space. The camp will begin on July 28. The first flight carrying the pilgrims from the state will take off on July 29 from Kochi. The proposed camp site is eight kilometers away the airport which is the only embarkation point for the pilgrims from Lakshadweep and Mahe besides Kerala.

The Haj panel's last ditch attempts to reinstate embarkation point and annual Haj camp at Calicut International Airport at Karipur had also gone in vain after the Union Government's refusal. 10,981 applicants have been selected for the pilgrimage this year and the number is expected rise once the final seat allocations are finalised according to availability. Majority of the pilgrim are from Malappuram (3,042) and Kozhikode (2,656 districts.

The Haj panel has also demanded the Centre to extend the date of submission of passport of the selected pilgrims who are expats working outside the country. April 15 is the present deadline. The expat applicants have to return to India to submit their passport by this deadline and wait for more than three months which may affect their jobs abroad.