We are still awaiting (information from) the Tangerang district administration regarding the land grant.Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Tangerang District Religious Affairs Office in Banten Province has apportioned funding worth Rp40 billion from the Central Government for building a hajj dormitory.
"We yet await (information from) the Tangerang district administration regarding the land grant," Head of the Tangerang District Religious Affairs Office Badri Hasun stated in Tangerang on Thursday.
Hasun noted that funding from the Religious Affairs Ministry had been disbursed since a year ago.
The hajj dormitory, to be built in Sepatan Sub-district, is some 5.5 kilometers from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Hasun admitted to having held a recent discussion on the land grant with Assistant I to the Tangerang District Secretary I for Administrative Affairs Herry Harianto.
The land for the hajj dormitory spans an area of three to four hectares.
Hajj pilgrims from Banten Province have, until now, been accommodated at the Pondok Gede hajj dormitory in East Jakarta prior to heading to Saudi Arabia.
Almost 2,400 to 2,600 Muslims in the district perform hajj pilgrimage in the Holy Land on a yearly basis, the highest among those of seven districts and a municipality in Banten, he noted.
Hasun believes that the presence of the hajj dormitory in Sepatan Sub-district will positively impact the district's economy, as local residents can sell various handicraft goods to visitors.
Translator: Adityawarman(TGR), Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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