DOLAKHA, SEP 20 - Short supply of cash has hit the local businesses hard. According to shopkeepers, the business has gone down by up to 75 percent, affecting traders of garments, jewelry and grocery in particluar.
The market used to remain crowded 15 days before Ghatasthapana (first day of Dashain festival). "But, the shops are saw thin crowd till the day of Ghatasthapa on Saturday," said Govinda Shrestha, proprietor of Pashupati fancy.
Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) has stopped making payment for cheques with amount above Rs. 5,000 for a week. About 4,000 civil servants, teachers, army men and police working in the districts have failed even to receive their salary. Some of them have relocated the place to receive salary at their home town/villages. People have failed to get back their deposited money in the banks.
"The government employees used to spend their money for Dashain shopping in Dolakha," said Rameshwor Manandhar, president of Dolakha Chambers of Commerce and Industry. "Millions of rupees that used to be spent here were not spent this year."
People also gave up ordering for new jewelry as they failed to receive money from their banks. Deepak Dhanuke, secretary of Nepal Gold and Silver Association, Dolakha, said they have been able to sell jewelry less than 30 percent against the figure of last Dashain.
The shortage of money in the banks has hit hard the sewing business as well. Nabin Nepali, proprietor of Nabin Tailor, said he was not feeling if Dashain was approaching near as he has not received any big order for stitching.
Manager of NBL at Charikot Sundar Shrestha blamed the NRB for not supplying notes to the bank. "We have no option except to listen to the complaints of customers given the NRB's failure to supply notes in time,"he said.
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