With 80 metres of land towards the Shivalik and Nada hills side in Panchkula now available to the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), the authorities will re-plan Sectors 23 and 32, which fall in the area.

“The decision to use this land was taken after recommendation from Geological Survey of India (GSI),” a senior HUDA official said.

“In 2002, when deep cracks had appeared in the area near the Shivalik and Nada hills, it was decided that Sectors 23 and 32 would be planned leaving 100 metres of land from the hills. This was done for safety.”

This, the official said, was a precautionary measure; to check if the crack grows bigger with time.

Also, the authorities had asked the Geological Survey of India to examine the area and give a report.

“The report which came now says the area is safe and construction can be done leaving around 20 metres of land from the hill. So we have 80 metres of extra land,” the official added.

While the existing plots in Sector 23 would not be altered, the additional land would be accommodated. In Sector 32, this land would be used to construct facilities like community centers.