Odisha offers copter to RBI for transporting currency notes

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government today offered helicopter, vehicles and additional security cover to the Reserve Bank of India for transporting currency notes to remote regions of the state which are facing problems following the demonetisation of high value notes.

"The helicopter is ready. The state government would also provide fuel support. RBI can utilise the helicopter for transportation of cash to remote areas" Chief Secretary A P Padhi told the RBI at a review meeting here.

Padhi, who also urged the RBI to supply new high denomination currency notes like Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 to the districts where left wing extremism (LWE) has been contained substantially, said that the state government would provide all kind of security cover for transportation of money from the RBI's state headquarters in the state capital to remote areas.

The state government pointed out that the intensity of Maoist activities has substantially declined in Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Sonepur and Ganjam districts.

Therefore, the RBI should not hesitate to supply big currency notes in these districts, Padhi said adding that the situation in Malkangiri, Koraput and Kalahandi poses a challenge.

Of the 4462 un-banked Gram Panchayats, around 50 per cent have been extended, banking services specially cash dispersion through Banking Correspondents (BC) leaving a balance of around 2000 GPs, official sources said.

"With support of local administration and cash supply from State Bank, the branch post offices have started cash operations in around 1600 unbanked GPs," an official statement said.