``Our role is merely confined to formulating policies, finalising norms of accommodation, co-ordinating with concerned agencies like the Air-India, state Haj committees and the Consulate General in Jeddah and Ministry of External Affairs,'' CHC chairman Salamatullah told reporters here.

``To our dismay, the Haj committee becomes a target of criticism from all quarters even for shortcomings we are hardly related to,'' he said, adding ``even for the Mina fire during Haj-1997 and stampede this year, the Haj committee was unnecessarily blamed.''

On complaints about transportation and delay in flights, he said the delays were due to limited check-in facilities compounded by the shortage of parking-bays and other infrastructural problems at Jeddah.

Accepting that baggage problem was one of the major complaints, hesaid ``Despite our cautioning the pilgrims in advance not to carry baggage beyond 45 kgs, a majority of them did not bother and there was no way out except to leave some of their belongings at Haj terminal to ensure their safety.''

However, Salamatullah said, the left-over zam zam (holy water) cans and baggage are being brought by Air-India by special Haj flights.

This year, 63,572 Indian pilgrims proceeded for Haj through Haj committee, while 25,000 others are reported to have gone either on their own or through various tours and travelling agencies, Salamatullah said.

Talviz Ahmed, joint secretary in the Ministry of External Affiars, however, said the Haj pilgrimage was a great success as compared to the previous year.

``But for the stampede in which 32 Indians died, which was beyond our control, Haj was successful this year,'' Ahmed said.

On the alleged shortcomings, he said, ``There is always room for improvement and we will try to further improve. There is no scope for fundamental change in theHaj pilgrimage, but it has to be further fine tuned.''

Ahmed urged the Haj committee to conduct orientation and training courses for Haj pilgrims.