23rd day of demonetisation: Unable to get cash, villagers block traffic in UP

New Delhi: Today is the 23rd day of the demonetisation and also the first day of the month which means a lot of people will rush toward ATMs and banks to get their money, as a result of credited salaries, which in turn most probably will lead to long queues. From banks one can take out up to Rs 24,000 per week but from ATMs only up to Rs 2,500 can be withdrawn per day.    Meanwhile in Greater Noida (UP), upset over the lack of money at banks even after 22 days of demonetisation, on Wednesday, villagers at Bilaspur here blocked the Noida-Sikandrabad road, affecting traffic for more than an hour. Reportedly the banks at Mandi Shyam Nagar in Dankaur displayed a 'no cash' notice and when the villagers reached there they were left agitated. Locals said the villagers then closed the banks' gates from outside and held protest even as some of them blocked traffic on the Noida-Sikandrabad road. For one and half hour traffic was affected. Senior police officers reached site and pacified the villagers after which the blockade was lifted. "For the last three days I have been visiting the bank to withdraw Rs 2,000 but am unable to get the money. Banks claim they are not getting cash. The ATMs too are without cash," said one of the villagers, Dharam Bhati. Another villager, Raje, alleged, "Bank officials give money to their known persons out of turn while the common man after standing in queue for hours was told there was no cash and was sent back." At Udyog Bandhu meeting held today at DM camp office in Noida, some industrialists raised the problems emerging due to demonetisation before the district magistrate N P Singh. "Small industries' production was affected. Though the government has allowed withdrawal of Rs 50,000 from current accounts but bank officials are refusing such withdrawals, saying there was no cash at banks," they claimed. CM Raghubar Das to launch "cashless Jharkhand campaign" on Dec 2: In Ranchi, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das will launch "cashless Jharkhand campaign" from Nagadi block of Ranchi district on December 2 which will continue till December 10 in the state, an official release said. Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, met the representatives of mobile companies and asked them to assist in making the cashless programme a success. Asking them to make consumers aware about the campaign, Kumar said the Chief Minister desired to make the public and the state smart by connecting the cashless economic system, the release said. The senior official asked the mobile companies to make their consumers aware about the campaign through bulk SMS or voice SMS. Kumar asked the companies to strengthen mobile network and increase the speed of internet in the state and if necessary towers could be increased.