HYDERABAD: A total of 1,223 Haj aspirants were selected from Telangana through ‘Qurrah’ (draw of lots) for Haj 2015 here on Wednesday.
Prof SA Shukoor, special officer, State Haj Committee, informed that the quota of Telangana is 2,760 and qurrah was held for 1,223 seats, excluding the ones for the reserved category. ‘’The departure of pilgrims will begin from August 17 to September 20 and we are yet to receive the schedule,’’ he said.
The committee has received 16,956 applications from Telangana of which 11,436 are from Hyderabad, making it a city with highest number of people desiring to go on the holy tour.
“This year, we have as many as 15,419 fresh applications and 1,537 reserved applicants,’’he said.
The selected candidates have to pay the first installment of `81,000 by April 30 and the NRI candidates are supposed to submit their passports by April 23.
Deputy chief minister Mahmood Ali, who was present at the venue, informed that a budget of `2 crore was allocated to make all the necessary arrangements for the Haj pilgrims. When asked about the proposed new Haj House building, the deputy chief minister said that once suitable land is available, further issues will be discussed.