Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel laid the foundation stone of the Chhattisgarh Haj House on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha here on Saturday.
Speaking through video conferencing from his office, he said the Haj House will be constructed on three acres of land at a cost of around Rs 26 crores. The five-storey building will have all facilities for Haj pilgrims.
The building will be built at Nava Raipur Atal Nagar near Mandir Hasaud Road Airport, an official statement said.
Extending Eid-ul-Adha greetings to the people of Muslim community, Baghel said that today is a day of double happiness for the people of Chhattisgarh.
While Eid-ul-Adha is being celebrated in Chhattisgarh along with the whole world, the foundation stone of the Chhattisgarh Haj House has been laid down, he said.
The demand for a Haj House has been finally fulfilled after a long time, he underlined.
The Chief Minister said that he will demand from the Central government that in the Haj pilgrimage of 2021, Haj pilgrims from Chhattisgarh should be given a chance.
He said he will also take the initiative to get the remaining amount of Rs 5 crore to Chhattisgarh from the Haj Committee of India.
Minister of School Education and Minority Welfare Dr Premsai Singh Tekam said that Haj pilgrims from Chhattisgarh had to earlier go to Nagpur. After the construction of Haj House, all the facilities will be available for them here.
Forest, Transport and Housing Minister Mohammad Akbar, who was present at the foundation stone site, said that efforts will be made to start air flights for the Haj from Chhattisgarh itself.
Among those present at the event were the Haj Committee Chairman Mohammad Aslam Khan, State Waqf Board Chairman Salam Rizvi and other distinguished members of the Muslim community.