BANGALORE: The state may face finance crunch while funding Haj pilgrims this year.
Replying to Mumtaz Ali Khan (BJP), minority welfare, haj & wakf minister Qamaraul Islam told the legislative council on Tuesday that the government was unable to withdraw the money deposited in city-based Amanath Co-operative Bank in December 2012.
“The money meant for the pilgrimage has been deposited by an executive officer of Haj committee in violation of rules. Despite committee deciding to transfer the Rs 2.29 crore to Union bank of India on March 1, 2012, the executive officer went ahead keeping the amount in Amanath Bank as savings in May 2012. However, Rs 2 crore was converted as fixed deposit for a period of three months in December 2012,” the minister said.
Islam said of late Amanath Bank has come under Reserve Bank of India, therefore deposits cannot be withdrawn immediately. The minister also assured the House that he would write to department of personal and administrative reforms ( DPAR) to initiate action against an officer for illegally depositing money.
To another query from Syed Mudheer Aga (JDS), Islam said that the survey of the Wakf board property will be complete by March 2014. “Nearly 70% of survey work is complete, remaining will be completed by March,” he said.
