MAPUSA
With banks and ATMs closed, there was restricted movement of people and traffic on the streets.
Mapusa market wore a deserted look with small-time businessmen like the fruit and vegetable vendors having had to face the brunt of the Centre’s decision.
“We have hardly done any business as there is considerable drop in customers in the market today,” said Hyder Ali, a fruit vendor in Mapusa market.
Currency notes of `100 evaporated within no time and most of the traders had to sit idle on the counter as no business could be conducted without change.
“Most of the holiday makers and locals who visit my shop come with `500 notes. I accepted `500 notes today but with a rider that people shop for as much value,” said John D’Souza, the owner of Vital D’Souza, a prominent businessman in Mapusa market.
He said the government’s sudden decision had inconvenienced a lot of people, particularly the tourists who were caught unawares.
Surprisingly, there was a sizeable crowd at the Paradise Store, a prominent pharmacy in the municipal market. Inquiries revealed that the pharmacy witnessed much bigger crowds on daily basis and business was much muted on Wednesday.
The owner faced similar problems of shortage of Rs 100 notes and was running out of the reserves. “I am accepting Rs 500 notes but I have also requested my customers to help me by purchasing items worth minimum Rs 300,” the owner, Warren Pinto told The Goan.
The vegetable market was virtually empty. Most of the vendors cried that lack of change had affected their businesses during the day.
“We did not accept `500 or `1,000 notes and we have almost exhausted all our change within an hour in the morning,” said Satyaveti Kavlekar, a local vendor from Guirim.
The only place that saw some activity was the Mapusa fish market. “We have been accepting `500 notes. We have to carry on with our business since it’s a perishable item,” said Shashikala Govekar, the chief of fish vendors in Mapusa.
Prominent super markets and other business enterprises in Mapusa promptly hoisted notices that they wouldn’t accept `500 and `1000 currency notes. At least one prominent private hospital fixed a similar notice that it would not accept `500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.
