The Tawa reservoir built on the Tawa river, a tributary of the Narmada, was completed in 1974. The people who were displaced by the reservoir were compelled to shift to higher areas around the reservoir. Till 1996, the reservoir's fishing was first managed by the state Fisheries Department and later given on lease to private contractors who used to fish unsustainably flouting fishing norms in order to maximise their profits. The local tribals displaced by the reservoir were treated like poachers when they caught fish for meeting their domestic food needs. Thus, the Tawa Matsya was formed in 1996 that got fishing and marketing rights over the produce for ten years after a strong people's movement.