Cash crunch before X’mas worries UDP, BJP in GH

TURA: The UDP and the Garo Hills unit of the BJP have sought the Centre’s as well as the State Government’s intervention in solving the problem of cash shortage in banks in the region before Christmas.
Addressing the gathering at UDP’s annual youth meet at Asanang village in Rongram, 18km from Tura, the party’s youth-wing working president Utjol Sangma said it would appeal to the Centre to release more Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes as the new Rs 2,000 note is “not solving the problem”.
“It was unanimously agreed that the Central government needs to be apprised of the problems being faced by the people because of demonetisation,” said Sangma, the former president of the Garo Students’ Union.
Former Meghalaya bureaucrat and senior BJP leader from East Garo Hills Santosh R. Marak has appealed to the Government to take urgent steps to avoid harassment of common people.
“The banks have restricted the withdrawal amount for account holders but it has been found that many a time banks do not even have enough money to provide the bare minimum for customers who wait in queues for a long time. Bank branches have been running out of money forcing customers to return empty-handed,” said Marak.
The BJP leader said with Christmas barely five days away, people have been trying to withdraw the maximum permitted amount of Rs 24,000 a week from their savings accounts but many have failed to do so because of currency shortage.
“Christmas shopping has been severely affected and the wedding season is fast turning into a disaster due to the currency crunch in the Garo Hills. The State Government should take urgent steps to see bank branches have sufficient money to provide its customers,” said the BJP leader.