Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has urged the Centre to take away the restriction on accepting the old currency of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 in Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) and Jogindra Central Cooperative Bank in the State in the larger interest of the people.
In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister has apprised that both the banks were operating in six districts of the State and tribal population was also suffering due to ban imposed on accepting the old currency.
He said KCCB had six branches in remote tribal areas of lahaul and Spiti district which remain cut off from the other parts of the State due to heavy snowfall till the month of May. If, the facility of acceptance of specified bank notes in the accounts of the customers of these banks was not made available, the people having accounts with these banks would face extreme difficulty, he added.
The Chief Minister said there was resentment among the account holders of these banks as they were not able to replace the old currency resulting into hardships in day-to-day life especially in emergent situations.