JEDDAH, 26 December — Several Haj service companies have expressed dissatisfaction over the allocation of pilgrims’ tents in the holy site of Mina and said they fear losses amounting to SR25 million during this Haj season.
The Ministry of Haj recently announced the allotments of tents in Mina. Although the service companies welcomed the announcement of the allotments well in advance to help them make the necessary preparations for support services, they say that the methods adopted by the ministry leave several loopholes that might encourage a black market in pilgrim permits. They also fear that it will lead to an increase in the number of pilgrims who camp on pavements and in streets, Al-Watan daily said in a report yesterday.
The companies said the early announcement will ensure better services for the pilgrims as it gave them sufficient time to make arrangements for food supplies and other services. The distribution of a pro-forma for the contract between the establishments and the pilgrims in advance is also a commendable move, they said.
These establishments, however, believe that the number of tents allotted to each of them in Mina was not sufficient. The ministry has underestimated the capabilities of some companies while others are given tent facilities well above the number of pilgrim permits they have been issued, they said, adding that this may encourage black-marketeering.
They cited the example of a Haj establishment with 400 pilgrim permits being allocated tents facilities for 1,225 pilgrims.
According the current Haj regulations governing domestic pilgrims, each service establishment has been allotted a fixed number of pilgrims. Last year the ministry imposed penalties on establishments that registered a bigger number of pilgrims than they were allowed to.
The establishments also voiced their displeasure over allocating tents on the fringes of Mina. This will make their tents unattractive to pilgrims, who will prefer to camp in areas close to the Jamarat, they complained.
