UN-HABITAT has reposed confidence in India's ability to resolve satisfactorily the ongoing crisis that has emerged from the acquisition of land in the absence of a holistic policy. The global body said the country will have to deal with the multitude of concerns around land even as the urban population doubles in the next three decades.

“The land problem is very difficult issue because of political, economical, social and emotional concerns involved with it. We have taken a note of it. I think India will deal with such pressing concerns very soon,” said Joan Clos, under secretary general, UN-HABITAT on Thursday.

In the last few years, several litigations have been filed against acquisitions in the national capital region (NCR). A three-member bench of the Allahabad high court cancelled the land acquisition in Shaberi village in Noida Extension in May.

“Capacity to develop consensus is a big issue with land acquisition. There are different experiences worldwide. UN-HABITAT can generate ideas on such emotional topics but it is up to individual country to implement,” Clos told reporters in New Delhi.

He also said, “Planning and design are key to sustainable urban future in a medium and long term. India is a strategic partner for UN-HABITAT to manage the growth of urban areas.”

India has also pledged to increase its contribution, which currently stands at $80,000 to UN-HABITAT. As reciprocation, the undersecretary said, "We are ready to contribute as much as we can.”

UN-HABITAT is also running programmes on water security and sanitation projects in different parts of India. “For checking corruption in such projects, UN-HABITAT is improving capacity building in the management. The local communities are encouraged to take active role in such programmes,” said Clos.

During his seven-day official visit to India from September 23-29, the undersecretary met Kamal Nath, urban development minister, Kumari Selja, ministry of housing and urban poverty and Arun Maira, member, planning commission. Apart from New Delhi, Clos also visited Chandigarh, Mumbai and Gurgaon.