Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 17: General public across Jammu region has been facing lot of problems in view of cash crunch as many ATMs especially in rural areas have gone dry for the past couple of days.
Worst is the position in Rajouri, Poonch and other major towns of the Pir Panjal region including Mendhar, Surankote, Mandi, Thannamandi, Darhal, Kotranka, Budhal, Kalakote, Nowshera besides other areas in Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Banihal, Mahore-Budhal, Reasi and many parts of Udhampur and Kathua.
While in Jammu, this problem was not serious as there are so many other bank branches operating and having own ATMs, in rural areas mostly JK Bank, State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank have their branches. The maximum load is on these banks.
Reports from Rajouri said that huge rush of customers was witnessed at a few ATMs of SBI and J&K Bank where some cash was available today while, due to less cash there, many people had to leave without cash.
One Bashir Ahmed who had come from Manjakote area to Rajouri town for making purchases, had to return without shopping as he could not get money due to non-availability of money in J&K Bank ATM and SBI as well.
Rakesh Gupta of Ward No. 5 Rajouri said that for the last two days he is unable to get cash. Today also he was in queue and he had to go empty hands as ATM went dry after some time.
One Shakeel Ahmed of Mahore who had come to Reasi district headquarters for making some purchases for his marriage, also had to go back empty handed as he was unable to get money despite having SBI and JK Bank ATMs this evening.
At Surankote in Poonch one Rehmatullah Khan, a Forest employee had to make purchases for the marriage of his daughter but he was unable to get cash. He said this problem is being faced for the last couple of days. Similar reports have been received from major towns of Udhampur, Ramban, Kishtwar and Doda besides Kathua. The people also alleged that mostly small currency and old notes are being provided by the Banks in most of the ATMs in the rural belt.
The Bank staff at most of these places has claimed that due to less supply of currency by the RBI this problem has surfaced.
Zonal Head, J&K Bank Jammu, Sunil Gupta claimed that there was no such major problem in Jammu city but reports of some shortage have been received from some other areas. He said in Jammu city there is a dedicated team of 30 officials with four vans who are attending the ATMs thrice a day. Another senior officer of the same bank claimed that in last three weeks they have received currency worth Rs 25 crore from RBI against the demand of almost double the currency.
At least Rs 20 lakh is needed for each bank ATM and some are getting less currency. He said this shortage has been faced in other States also and the RBI has assured to over come it shortly. Despite repeated attempts, Regional Director RBI, Jammu, Thomas Methew could not be contacted.
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