Agartala: The banks in Tripura are facing a new challenge in convincing the customers who turn up with coins of Rs 10 and ask for currency notes in exchange after rumors spread that the coins have become illegal. Besides, exchanging Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, hundreds of people beeline in the banks seeking exchange of Rs 10 coins with notes. However, the RBI officials here today termed the rumor as ‘false’ and warned if anybody refuse to accept the tender value of ten rupee coin, legal action would be taken against them as neither there is ban on coins nor the coins are found counterfeit.
The customers alleged that local shops and vendors have stopped taking the coins, which triggered panic among the citizens. There are rumours that the coins of 2009 are not valid as there is no rupees symbol and designs of the coins are not identical. The bank officials stated that they have been approached by customers for exchanging coins with notes of Rs 10 or its bigger denominations. Even when banks offered a bag full of coins to the businessmen in exchange they refused to accept it, they said. “The schedule banking activities other than the exchange of demonetised notes and cash deposit to the accounts have been affected in past few days.
Due to shortage of currencies in smaller denominations most of the ATMs became non-functional. Meantime, the rumor of coins further complicated the situation,” an official stated. He stated that the issue has been clarified by RBI and it also supplied coins of various denominations to the branch to tackle the crisis of exchange. But suddenly the wrong information circulated in the market, which affected the business and banking activities in the state, he said. (UNI)
