A permanent 780-square-foot structure housing rest rooms for security guards was constructed on the piece of land which was allotted to Karunanidhi in 1967 by way of a Corporation resolution for Rs 3,250, local administration minister K P Munusamy said.
However, on his request in 1969 the allotment was cancelled and money was advised to be refunded. "But despite the cancellation, it is still in possession of Karunanidhi. In 1978, he had requested reassigning the land but no decision was taken by Chennai corporation," he said.
The minister said the civic body had adopted a resolution in 2003 seeking retrieval of the land for government use but no action had been taken.
"This land continues to be used by Karunanidhi and we will initiate all legal steps to retrieve the encroached land," he said, replying to a motion moved by AIADMK legislator Vetrivel.
Munuswamy also said steps would be taken to retrieve land allegedly encroached as part of DMK's headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' after Vetrivel levelled a charge to this effect.
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