Fishermen with their fresh catch from the Totladoh reservoir. Fishing is prohibited in Totladoh reservoir under the wildlife act. About 600 traditional fishermen in the district have alleged that they have lost their only source of livelihood after the ban. What is very surprising about the issue is that fishermen on the Madhya Pradesh side of the reservoir enjoy the fishing rights. Fishermen in the district and adjoining Chindwara and Seoni in Madhya Pradesh traditionally fished on the Pench river to earn their livelihood. this changed after a decision to construct a dam on the river in a project in 1975. the villagers affected by the project were paid compensation, but the fishermen were allgedly neglected.