PANAJI
In a surprising move, the State government has re-appointed Shamila Monteiro as the Director of Fisheries, almost ten months after she was shunted out from the post following the Cutbona jetty crisis.
In an order issued on June 10, Under Secretary personnel Raghuraj Faldesai said that Monteiro, an officer on special duty in the department of environment, is transferred as Director Fisheries, with immediate effect.
The appointment came following transfer of IAS officer Yashaswini B, who was holding the charge, out of Goa.
In September, last year, Monteiro was relieved from the post in the wake of a serious health crisis at Cutbona jetty, where an alleged outbreak of cholera led to the deaths of five labourers, while over 160 individuals were infected with dengue and cholera.
She was also at the centre of the 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.
Meanwhile, the government has reinstated Veena Kumar as the officiating director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services following directions from the Supreme Court.
The Court had in May through an interim order had directed the State to reinstate Kumar till the next hearing on July 22.
She was earlier appointed as officiating director, but after a note from the minister for animal husbandry, she was replaced by Nitin Naik. The order appointing Naik was challenged before the high court, which refused to interfere in the matter.
