Fishermen have urged the government to revive the reservation of five seats in fisheries colleges to children of fishermen every year. Raising this issue in the fishermen’s grievance redressal meet held on Friday, Charles of Amali Nagar said the government that reserved five seats in fisheries colleges for fishermen’s children, withdrew the quota subsequently. Collector M. Ravikumar, who presided, said that he would send a letter to the government recommending the revival of the reservation. When the participants wanted the administration to organise special meetings to explain salient features of Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2011 to fishermen, he said a meeting would be organised during this month. We’re acting tough against structures that have come up along the coast in violation of CRZ notification. While notices have been issued to 73 buildings in Tiruchendur and 38 buildings in Thoothukudi that have come up in violation of the notification, 17 godowns have been sealed, he said. He informed that 340 petitions seeking old age pension and free house sites were received during the special camps held at Tharuvaikulam, Vembar and Kombudurai. Orders had been issued for giving old age pension to 15 beneficiaries each in Tharuvaikulam and Vembar and free house sites to 25 fishermen from Manappad. He said fish-landing centre at Kombudurai was being built at a cost of Rs. 2 crore and construction of similar structures at Periyathaazhai, Singidurai and Punnaikaayal had reached advanced stage. Proposal for construction of groyne at Inigo Nagar, costing about Rs. 11.43 crore, had been forwarded to the government. He handed over assistance, worth Rs. 32.94 lakh, like free house site pattas, old age pension orders, compensation to fishermen who were killed in accidents, and cash awards to fishermen’s children who topped in SSLC and the Plus Two examinations last year. Sub-Collector of Thoothukudi Deepak Jacob, District Revenue Officer M. Veerappan, Project Director, District Rural Development Agency V. Pitchai and Assistant Directors of Fisheries Ganesh Nehru and Bala Saraswathi were present.