Hundreds of fishermen from villages along the Bargi Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh have been forced to migrate to other water bodies in search of livelihood as fish production in the reservoir continues to decline sharply.
In a press release issued by the Bargi Dam Displaced and Affected Association, representatives Raj Kumar Sinha and Bhuban Burman stated that fishermen from several villages in Ghansaur development block—including Bijasen, Kudwari, Chamarwah, Gangaghat, and Basuriya—have left their homes in search of employment. According to the release, two pickup trucks carrying migrant fishermen departed after Navratri for the Bansagar Reservoir in Shahdol, the Machagora Reservoir in Chhindwara, and the Bhimgarh Reservoir in Seoni.
The crisis has been decades in the making. According to a 2021 report by Down To Earth, the Bargi Reservoir produced 432 tonnes of fish in 1994-95—but by 2020-21, production had plummeted to just 28 tonnes, a decline of over 93 percent. The reservoir, spread across 16,400 hectares, supports 54 primary fishermen cooperative societies across Seoni, Mandla, and Jabalpur districts. Of these, 18 societies are in Seoni district alone.
From Cooperative Management to Private Contracts
Local fishermen attribute the crisis to a shift in management policies. According to Raju Kumar Sinha, a member of a fishermen's union, production thrived as long as local unions held fishing rights. "Till the time the rights of power of fish production was with the union, the production of fish increased. As soon as the state government intervened and transferred the powers to the contract management parties, the production suffered," he told Down To Earth in 2021.
From 1994-95 to 1998-99, fishermen's committees managed production, consistently achieving annual outputs between 426 and 530 tonnes. However, after 2000-01, the work was handed over to private players. Fishermen allege that contractors allowed fishing during breeding seasons and failed to regularly stock fish seeds, while engaging in illegal night fishing.
The State Fisheries Federation currently controls 26 major and medium reservoirs across Madhya Pradesh, covering a total area of 2.29 lakh hectares. The federation, established in the 1990s after the dissolution of the State Fisheries Development Corporation, was originally intended to involve local fishermen representatives in reservoir development. However, affected communities argue that the federation has abandoned its responsibility.
Socio-Economic Impact on Fishing Communities
The livelihood crisis has pushed thousands of families to the brink. A 2023 study published by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) revealed that fishermen in the Bargi reservoir area earn an average monthly income of just ₹3,405 from fishing, with total household income averaging ₹5,675. The study also found that 47.7 percent of fishermen are illiterate, and 81.1 percent expressed dissatisfaction with their cooperative society membership.
Munna Burman, president of the Bargi Dam Displaced Fisheries Production and Marketing Cooperative Federation, stated that 10-15 local fishermen have been migrating from each cooperative committee since November. Each of the 54 cooperative societies has 50-55 members, meaning that approximately 2,500 families depend on the reservoir for their livelihood.
According to the displaced association's release, the reservoir currently has about 2,500 fishermen in the Mandla-Bargi area. Construction of the Bargi Dam on the Narmada River displaced and affected 162 villages, including a significant number of families from the fishing community whose livelihoods depend entirely on the reservoir.
Demands for Intervention
The Bargi Dam Displaced and Affected Association has made several demands to the state government. Chief among these is a comprehensive scientific study to understand and address the declining fish production. The association has also called for:
- A long-term plan to boost fish production in the reservoir
- Greater accountability from the State Fisheries Federation for both reservoir development and fisherman welfare
- Transparent and adequate fish seed stocking practices
Similar demands were raised as early as 2021, when the fishermen's union wrote to the state government requesting a scientific study to halt migration.
Government Response and Recent Initiatives
While the crisis at Bargi continues, the Madhya Pradesh government has recently announced initiatives to modernize fisheries management in other reservoirs. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav stated in July 2025 that modern technology—including drones, GPS, and CCTV-equipped command control rooms—is being deployed at the Indira Sagar Reservoir as a pilot project to monitor fisher safety and fish seed conservation.
The government has also planned to construct transit houses and floating platforms equipped with solar mobile charging stations and bio-toilets for fishermen's safety. Additionally, an advanced Kevat training institute is to be established in Bhopal under the central government's Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) to train the fishing community in cage culture, biofloc technology, and fish processing.
However, these initiatives have yet to address the specific crisis facing Bargi's displaced fishing communities. A 2020 study on alternative livelihood opportunities for Bargi fishermen suggested options such as aquaculture in village ponds, eco-tourism, and ornamental fish culture as potential solutions. Currently, affected fishermen have resorted to working as wage laborers and farm or construction workers to survive.
The association has urged immediate government action to prevent further displacement and restore the livelihood of thousands of families dependent on the Bargi Reservoir.
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