Thiruvananthapuram: At least half the treasuries in the state were short of hard currency on Wednesday affecting pension and salary disbursal for the second consecutive day. The treasuries had received only Rs 49 crore, less than half of Rs 103 crore the state had sought for the day. If on April 4 there was severe note crisis in 79 sub-treasuries, the shortage was felt in 40 sub-treasuries on Wednesday.
The crunch has come at a time when the state government was planning to release the first instalment of the pay revision arrears. Employees have to be given Rs 1,400 crore and the forego on account of pensioners will be Rs 900 crore. Besides, Rs 1,141 crore is required to disburse social welfare pension to 39 lakh beneficiaries.
Here are the treasuries that did not receive any money on the day: Vellanad, Kundara, Chavara, Kollam, Anchal, Pathanamthitta, Adoor, Alappuzha, Cherthala, Poochakkal, Pallikkathodu, Kuravilangad, Painavu, Rajakumari, Kattappana, Ernakulam, Kalloorkkad, Kozhikode, Nadavayal, Dwaraka, Chattanchal, Malakkallu and Iritty.
The absence of funds allotted from the banks affected the functioning of the various treasuries in Kottayam, the worst-affected district.
Though the district treasury and the sub treasury demanded Rs 1 crore for the distribution of the pension and the salaries, the district Treasury was granted only Rs 10 lakh and the sub treasury Rs 20 lakh. This if for the second consecutive day that the Treasuries in Kottayam are facing problem to distribute salary and pension owing to the absence of funds.
Sources from the State Bank of India (SBI) told DC that the bank is facing a shortage of currency notes. Besides Kottayam, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Kozhikode, Wayand and Kaargod districts were the worst affected.
