After reports of ATMs running dry in various states, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned is there was a…
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Photo: Twitter)
After reports of ATMs running dry in various states, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday questioned is there was a “financial emergency” in the country and said it reminded her of the days of demonetisation.
Miss Banerjee tweeted: “Seeing reports of ATMs running out of cash in several states. Big notes missing. Reminder of #DeMonetisation days. Is there a Financial Emergency going on in the country? #CashCrunch #CashlessATMs”.
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Currency shortage has been reported in many states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh in the past few weeks. Similar complaints have been reported in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar since yesterday.
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In West Bengal, ATMs in a few areas faced shortage of cash leaving people in trouble. Boards displaying ‘No Cash’ were found in ATMs located in CR Avenue and Dalhousie.
“The ATM did not have cash since morning. I’m checking it for the third time and found no cash. If the situation continues in this manner then it will become a serious problem,” said Mr Ravi Kant Mishra, an insurance firm employee.
Echoing the same Mrs Rama Sen, a teacher said that if more number of ATMs run dry then the city will have to go through the past experience of demonetisation.
Security guards posted in these ATMs had to face queries from people as to why there was no cash and when cash would arrive.
A bank official said that a month ago, the Reserve Bank of India had disallowed banks from moving excess cash in one circle to deficient circles. As a result, now many circles have excess cash and others have nothing.
This may have led to the current problem in some states, he said. According to the RBI data, currency in circulation as on 6 April was Rs 18.17 lakh crore.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, however, said there was “more than adequate” currency in circulation and the temporary shortage in certain states was being “tackled quickly”.
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