The Itahari Sub- Metropolitan city has urged all landlords to give 50 per cent discount on monthly rent of their property in view of the impact caused by COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

At an "urgent" meeting of all elected ward chairs and deputy mayor and mayor today morning at sub-metropolis office, the people’s representatives also decided to contribute their one month’s allowances to the "emergency fund". The fund was sent by the sub-metropolis to help poor and marginalised people of the local body.

According to Lilaraj Bhattarai, the press coordinator of mayor Dwarika Lal Chaudhary, the meeting has requested to allocate one week’s salary of all employees of the local government.

Likewise, Itahari has reached an agreement with Gorakha Department Stores of Itahari to make home delivery of all available daily essentials. The delivery will be carried out on the basis of five wards in a day based on a routine scheduled. All households of all 20 wards will be provided with demanded daily essentials, the department sources said.