Senior officials of BFIs said they have not started distributing fresh notes as they are still making preparations for arranging separate counters for issuing them. [break]
“We will begin distribution of fresh notes soon,” a senior official of a commercial bank said, requesting anonymity as he is not authorized to speak to media.
NRB officials said they have received complaints from general public over delay in distribution of fresh notes. “Their complaints are genuine. Hence, we are preparing to seek clarification from the BFIs over the issue,” said Nara Bahadur Thapa, chief of NRB´s Biratnagar office.
Thapa told Republica that the central bank had issued fresh notes of smaller denominations to 48 BFIs in last week. “We will make sure that the BFIs start issuing fresh notes to the public immediately,” said Thapa.
Apart from that, Thapa added that the NRB office would start issuing fresh notes arranging a special counter from Sunday.
As demand for new notes of smaller denominations grow during Dashain, NRB has distributed Rs 59.25 million worth of notes of Rs 5 denomination, Rs 105 million worth of new notes of Rs 10 denomination, Rs 183 million worth of notes of Rs 20 denomination, Rs 295.5 million worth of new notes of Rs 50 denomination and Rs 418.5 million worth of new notes of Rs 100 denomination to the BFIs in Biratnagar.
Considering the rise in demand for fresh notes, which is widely gifted to the elders and children during the festive season, NRB has prepared to issue Rs 2 billion worth of fresh notes in the eastern region of the country. Last year, the central bank had issued Rs 1.40 billion worth of fresh notes in the region.
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