Bankers said except for the ATMs installed in branches, others have been shut down because they faced problems in reloading cash on the machines. Few others attributed the closure to the safety of the ATMs itself. [break]
As a result, customers faced problems in withdrawing money even in areas like New Road, Kumaripati and New Baneshwor where most the banks have their ATMs. Even ATMs in branch offices remained out of service in those areas.
Officials of Nabil Bank said that most of its ATMs have remained closed over the strike period. Only ATMs located in its branches have functioned during this period.
“Nepal Bangledesh Bank is operating almost normally except for the ATMs and evening counters,” said an official of the bank.
However, bankers said that only some selected branches of the banks offered customer services on the day, while majority of branches remained closed.
Existing rules and regulations of Nepal Rastra Bank restricts banks from shutting down operations, but bankers said the strike has compelled them to shorten or close customer services at branches.
“We have asked our staffs to operate all the ATM machines and branches of our bank,” said Raju Nepal, Chief Operating Officer of Citizens Bank. “We also settled some transactions and a dollar transaction today,” he told Republica.
While closure of ATMs has hit customers across the country, entrepreneurs said tourists returning to Pokhara from Annapurna circuit and Machhapuchchhre base camp, among others, have been hit worst by the closure.
“I spent all my money during the journey of Annapurna Circuit. Now I am not finding any ATMs working to withdraw cash,” said a tourist, walking around the Lakeside hoping that ATMs there would work. Citing that closure of ATMs has left him penniless, he said he does not have enough to pay for food and accommodation.
Tourism entrepreneurs said that closures of banks, financial institutions and their ATM services have badly hit tourists.
“Those who just returned from trekking are worst hit, because they had no information of strike and could not draw enough money to support their stay,” said Govinda Raj Pahari, president of Western Hotel Association.
Some 468 tourists had gone trekking to Annapurna circuit since May, according to the statistics of Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP).
Entrepreneurs said that they have repeatedly requested the banks to resume at least ATMs services. But they said none of the banks have yet responded to their calls positively.
Shraddha Shrestha, an official at the Tourism Board, said that the office too had requested senior leaders of the UCPN (Maoist) to allow the banks to operate ATMs. “They said they will consider, but have not permitted banks to restart service so far,” said she.
There are some 30 ATMs in Pokhara, however, they have remained out of service for the last five days. The banks have fixed a notice that they will resume services as soon as possible.
(With inputs from Santosh Pokharel in Pokhara)
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