KATHMANDU: Speaker of the House of Representatives Krishna Bahadur Mahara today has pledged support to get a bill related to people's fundamental right to safe drinking water and healthy lifestyle endorsed once it entered the parliament.

Mahara made this statement at a concluding 'International Conference on Water, Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge Sharing and Partnership' in the Capital on Thursday.

Terming the conference held in the countries that are facing the impacts of climate change as relevant, he expressed hope that the agendas raised at the conference would be useful for the Nepal government and other participating countries.

"Water management for Nepal is a crucial part. A concrete plan should be brought in place," he said.

Likewise, Minister for Forests and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet asserted that Nepal has been facing the impact of climate change.

He also pledged to celebrate New Year 2075 as environment-friendly year, and programmes relating to environment conservation and climate change would be prepared and launched.

Other speakers like former Minister for Environment Ganesh Shah and the conference coordinator and Chairperson of the Society of Public Health Engineers, Nepal (SOPHEN) Ram Deep Sah stressed the need for managing and providing safe drinking water for the people.

The two-day conference was organised jointly by the Department of Water Supply & Sewerage, the SOPHEN and the Nepal Engineers' Association.