No cash in ATMs worsens crisis
NUAPADA : The 50-day deadline of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore normalcy over cash crunch after the announcement of demonetisation will end this week. But, there are still no visible signs of pain easing significantly.
Adding to the woes of the common man, the Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in the district headquarter town of Nuapada remain closed for the last four days in absence of cash.
And, the banks are clueless when normalcy would be restored. After Modi sought 50 days time to settle down things on November 13, several bankers were of the opinion that the cash crunch could last at least until March and their apprehensions seem to be coming true.
Of the 13 ATMs in Nuapada town, seven are closed for last three days. The only private ATM which has long queue for about two hours is that of Axis Bank and it also closes down for the day after the cash gets exhausted.
The State Bank of India, which enjoys monopoly for being custodian of government funds, has four ATMS of which two remain closed for last three days. Chief Manager, Kedarnath Patnaik, is clueless about it as he has been on leave for the last three days even though the ATMs were shut down before he went on leave.
While the ATM of Union Bank of India is also shut down, its Branch Manager Haldhar Nayak said they were forced to close down in absence of required cash. The ATM has been calibrated and they are yet to receive any `500 notes. Similarly, one each ATM of Punjab National Bank and United Commercial Bank are also closed for last three or more days.
In fact there are 23 ATMs in Nuapada, Komna and Khariar of which 13 ATMs are closed down and people are suffering in absence of cash. Vice-president of Nuapada Zilla Parishad Bhanu Pratap Singh Majhi said, one can very well imagine the cash crisis in rural areas where the economy has come to a grinding halt.