Chandigarh, Aug. 17 -- Nearly three years after the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) denied clearance for a housing scheme at the Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) has now decided to restrict construction to three floors instead of six. In October 2022, the Ministry had refused to grant approval for the project, citing that the site fell within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and that high-rise buildings here could disrupt the flight path of migratory birds. Under the revised plan, CHB will construct flats on Plots 1 and 2 (16.60 acres) and Plot 7 (6.73 acres). These plots form part of the 123 acre prime land, retrieved by the board from Parsvnath Developers in 2015 after a prolonged legal battle. A senior CHB official said, "We have decided to restrict construction to ground plus three floors instead of ground plus six, as the National Board of Wildlife permits a maximum height of 15 metres. We are in the process of hiring a private architectural consultant to re-plan the project so that maximum dwelling units can be accommodated despite the reduced height. The revised proposal will soon be sent to the wildlife board for approval, and we hope to begin work by the end of the year." The official added that the exact number of flats will only be finalised once the consultant submits its report. The project has remained embroiled in several controversies for years. In October 2023, then UT administrator Banwarilal Purohit had sought an explanation from the CHB for spending Rs.15 crore on the scheme without securing mandatory approvals. The amount had gone towards construction of roads, underground service ducts, sewer and water lines, and aRs.5 crore payment to the UT estate office for project drawings. Certain consultancy tenders were also awarded during this period. In April 2023, then CHB CEO Yashpal Garg had even written to the UT administration urging it to take back the land allotted for the IT Park housing project and refund the Rs.1,000 crore already spent by the board since 2005....