MAKKAH — The Ministry of Haj said it has noticed illegally packaged containers of Zamzam water being distributed to pilgrims, Al-Hayat newspaper reported on Wednesday. The ministry said the containers were not manufactured according to the specifications of the King Abdullah Zamzam Water Project to provide the holy water to pilgrims before their departure for their home countries. A ministry's official source said the ministry warned all Umrah companies against distributing these containers to pilgrims at their accommodation after investigations revealed that a number of unlicensed people were illegally distributing Zamzam water to pilgrims in their accommodations. He said the ministry urged Umrah companies to ask pilgrims to obtain the holy water from its correct source, which is the National Water Company (NWC). The NWC, which is the operator of the King's Zamzam water project, said five-liter containers have been especially produced for the pilgrims and will be given to them from its outlets before they go home. The outlet, located in the Kudai district, has a daily supply capacity of 5,000 cubic meters of Zamam water and is daily producing about 200,000 containers each with a capacity of 10 liters. The project was opened in 2010 at a cost of SR700 million. It has 42 distributing points and is working around the clock to provide the holy water to pilgrims, visitors and residents. Meanwhile, the ministry has since Jan. 11, started its program of receiving Haj missions from about 80 countries to discuss arrangements being made for their pilgrims with regard to accommodation, transportation and flight schedules.
