Accusing the Odisha Government of creating confusion among the public over the demonetisation scheme, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said more currency notes of Rs500 would reach the State’s market on Sunday.
“I wonder how the State Government is creating confusion among the people over the demonetisation issue. There are about 20,000 outlets of the SBI alone in the State where money can be available or transacted. The State Government should, instead, cooperate and not create confusion,” Pradhan told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
Pradhan’s statement came a day after State Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat informed the State Assembly that Odisha is facing acute shortage of small-denomination currency notes of Rs100 and Rs500.
Replying to the State’s allegation, Pradhan said, “Rs500 notes will be available in the State from tomorrow. Therefore, people should not hoard more money.”
Amat had also said the demonetisation has its adverse effect on the State’s economy as farmers, small traders and others face difficulties due to non-availability of currency notes of small denominations.
However, Pradhan said that apart from the SBI facilities, there are 6,000 Common Service Centres (CSCs) in all the gram panchayats where the banking correspondents are making people aware on cashless transactions. The Bank Mitras in the unbanked areas also make people aware about use of mobile phones for cashless transactions, he added.