Government helps states in firefighting

New Delhi: The Union home ministry, which is constantly monitoring the situation arising out of the Centre’s demonetisation initiative, reviewed the law and order scenario across the country on Tuesday. The ministry, which has constituted a three-member team that is in constant touch with the state police chiefs and is getting regular feedback regarding crowds at banks and ATMs.

Ministry sources said though the situation is by-and-large under control, there are reports of tension from some parts of the country, particularly Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi. The states have already been directed to deploy adequate police personnel at all bank outlets and ATMs.

The states have also been asked to inform the Centre in case they require additional para-military personnel to manage the situation. “We have conveyed to the states that if they require any assistance, we will provide it immediately,” an official said.

Ministry officials claimed they feel the situation would improve considerably in the next few days. The ministry has already issued two separate advisories to manage the situation in all the states.

The Reserve Bank of India has also informed the Centre that currency printing presses are running at “full capacity” to sustain demand of the new notes.

The central bank has also claimed that adequate stock of all currency notes has been kept ready at more than 4,000 locations across the country, and bank branches are linked to them for sourcing their requirement.