ATMs in major UP cities go dry, government says normalcy will return in two-three days

According to a senior officer of State Bank of India, the crunch has precipitated due to the short supply of currency by RBI.
Image for representational purpose only.
Image for representational purpose only.

Lucknow: In UP, ATMs have been running dry in a number of cities including State capital Lucknow, Agra, Kanpur and Varanasi. CM Yogi Adityanath has asked the officers of the finance department to keep a vigil on the situation.

According to a senior officer of State Bank of India, the crunch has precipitated due to the short supply of currency by RBI.

State Finance Minister Rajesh Agarwal reassured people of the state that the crisis would be over in next 2-3 days.

“I have been in touch with Centre and talked to Union Minister of State for Finance over the issue. There have been reports about the alleged hoarding of currency notes of Rs 2000 denomination.  I feel it is a conspiracy hatched to create a deliberate currency crisis. Even rumour mongering is also on,” he claimed adding that there was no shortage of Rs 2000 and Rs 500 currency notes in banks. “I am in touch with RBI people as well. The crisis will be over in next 2 days,” he said.

However, Sanjay Jaiswal, a Lucknow trader was reminded of post demonetisation scenario in 2016.

“We are facing cash crunch. I have to make certain important payments but the ATMs are running dry,” he said.

A senior officer of the State Bank of India in Lucknow, seeking anonymity, said that hoarding of currency notes is taking place in a large number especially of Rs 2,000 denomination notes.

Consequently, notes of lower denominations in ATMs being taken by people instead of a good number and ATMs running dry. SBI is facing a major problem because payment under many government schemes is made through the bank.

Even Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar also assured the people that state government was working to find a solution to end the crisis soon.

A senior official of Bank of India also attributed the crisis to low cash flow in banks. Many ATMs across Lucknow had no cash. In Varanasi, a resident claimed that even after visiting five-six ATMs since morning, he could not get the cash to paid for the admission of children and purchase groceries and vegetables.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com