Nellore: Not only banned notes, even the new Rs 2,000 notes are not being accepted anywhere, be it petrol bunds or grocery stores, because of the dearth of seller denomination notes. Adding to the woes of the public, most of the banks have been offering only Rs 2,000 notes. Electrical shop owner G. Prakasa Rao said they were not accepting Rs 2,000 notes as they don't have enough change and they can handle five customers if they decline one customer who wants to buy Rs 200-worth item and takes away notes worth Rs 1,800.
Another blow to accountholders is that the banks have been asking the customers to limit their withdrawals to Rs 4,000, similar to the limit on exchange of banned notes, though they were entitled to withdraw Rs 10,000 per day directly from the bank. Joint collector Mr Imtiaz saw the ordeal of the common man when he made a surprise visit to banks located near the Collectorate on Saturday.
He pulled up the bank officials for not bringing cash shortage issue to his notice. A bank staff told him they got only Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 20 lakh and they do not have small denomination notes. In one bank branch, Mr. Imtiaz took strong objection to making customers wait outside the bank though there is hardly any rush inside. The JC said collector had apprised CS of the prevailing situation with a request to talk to the RBI to mobilise sufficient quantities of cash.
