Except Puri, 99% banks functional in Odisha post Cyclone FANI

Bhubaneswar: Barring Puri district, 99% banks are functional in other areas of Odisha post Cyclone FANI, informed Union Finance Additional Secretary Debasish Panda.

It will take time to rebuild the bank branches affected by the dangerous cyclone. Otherwise, 99 percent banks are functional, he told reporters after State-Centre finance coordination meeting held at State Guest House in Bhubaneswar today.

On non-functioning of the ATM counters in the FANI-hit areas, he said that the ATM issues are still continuing in Puri, Khordha and Cuttack districts because of poor connectivity that occurred due to VSAT, which were blown away in the cyclone. However, 90% ATMs are functional in some districts.

However, he assured that almost 90% ATMs will become functional in Puri and Khordha by end of this week.

“More or less, it is now normal banking after cyclone. As far as insurance is concerned, all the insurance companies and IRDA, the regulator, have made relaxation for the customers. That means, the documents required to claim the insurance have been relaxed,” Panda said.

“The normalcy has been restored in the banking sector except Puri, where only 27 or 28% ATMs are functional now after the cyclone,” said Finance Secretary Ashok Meena.

The efforts are underway to bring new VSAT for the ATMs.

Speaking to reporters on the SLBC meeting, he said, “A special SLBC meeting was held recently to discuss the RBI master circular to give breather for the bank customers, who had taken loans, in the cyclone-hit districts. The meeting had recommended for the adoption of Kerala model in Odisha. A task force has been set up to discuss that recommendation. The meeting is scheduled at 4.30 pm today at secretariat. The recommendation for relaxation in RBI master circular will be sent to the RBI and the Centre.”