Bhubaneswar: Charging the Odisha government of creating confusion among the public over demonetisation scheme, Union Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said more currency notes of Rs 500 will reach market here tomorrow.
"I wonder how the state government is creating confusion among the people over the demonetisation issue. There are about 20,000 outlets of 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 comes a day after Odisha's Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat informed the state assembly that the state is facing acute shortage of small denomination currency notes of Rs 100 and Rs 500.
Replying to the state's allegation that Rs 100 and Rs 500 currency notes are not available, Pradhan said: "Rs 500 notes will be available in the state from tomorrow. Therefore, people should not hoard more money."
The Odisha minister had also said that demonetisation had its adverse effect on the state's economy as farmers, small traders and others face difficulties due to non-availability of currency notes in small denomination.
Countering state's charges, Pradhan said apart from SBI's facilities, there are 6,000 common Service centres (CSC) in all the gram panchayats where the banking correspondents are making people aware on the cashless transactions.
The 'Bank Mitras' in unbanked areas also make people aware about use of mobile phones for cashless transaction.