IAS officer Yashaswini takes over charge
MAPUSA
In a surprising administrative shuffle, Shamila Monteiro has been removed from her position as Director of Fisheries, with IAS officer Yashaswini B taking over the charge.
The decision was formalised through an order issued by the Under Secretary Personnel, relieving Monteiro of her duties.
However, she will continue to serve as the Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board.
Monteiro’s replacement comes in the wake of a serious health crisis at Cutbona jetty, where an alleged outbreak of cholera has led to the deaths of five labourers, while over 160 individuals have been infected with dengue and cholera.
The incident has placed intense scrutiny on the State’s Health and Fisheries administration, raising questions about the handling of sanitation and public health at the jetty.
Monteiro has been no stranger to controversy during her time as Director of Fisheries.
She was at the centre of the ongoing LED fishing controversy, with members of the fishing community accusing her of favouritism toward fishers using LED lights – a practice banned due to its harmful impact on marine life.
The fishing community had strongly criticised the department for allegedly allowing the illegal practice to continue under Monteiro’s leadership.
This is not the first time Monteiro has faced administrative consequences.
In 2017, she was transferred following allegations of irregularities in the distribution of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards to fishermen.
These cards are essential for regulating fishing activities, and the controversy surrounding their distribution led to widespread criticism of the Fisheries department at the time.
