A very Important and significant struggle has unfolded in Odisha. Small and traditional fishing communities have come out to save a river. It will go a long way to spread and strengthen fishers’ struggle to save water bodies. Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum (DMF) hails it and pledges full support to it. In taking up the struggle to save Panchubisha the fishing communities of Bahanaga Block of the district of Baleswar in the State of Odisha have once again proved that they are the natural custodians of our water bodies. Odisha Matsyajibi Forum hails their movement and calls for support from all concerned organisations and people. Panchubisha is a river (creek) in Bahanaga Block of Balasore District of Odisha. Since long about 2000 poor fishermen families residing in 5 Gram Panchhyats named: Kharasahapur, Avana, Bishnupur, Aruhabad & Baripada have been using traditional boats & small motorized boats (Bhutubhuties). They depend on Panchubisha to access sea (Bay of Bengal) for fishing. Panchubisha also provides a major channel for drainage of excess rain & flood water of a huge catchment area of the Bahanaga Block. In 1989 a fishing Jetty was constructed by Govt. of Odisha with funding from NFDB to improve the frequency of fishing and facilitate fishing operations by the poor local traditional fishermen. Also, in 1991, a check bridge was constructed on this river to control the salt water as well as the rain/flood water for cultivation purpose. The real crisis arose in early 2001 when shrimp farming was introduced in this area with aquaculture policies of Govt. of Odisha. A few rich Prawn Mafia (culturist) acquired huge area of land on the river basin. Due to a heavy flow of river Panchubisha it was not easy to construct and retain the ponds. The unscrupulous prawn mafias tried to obstruct and defunct the check bridge to stop natural water from flowing into the river and this process continued for several years. Finally in the year 2005 the check bridge bacame totally defunct and the river Panchubisha died. The voice of poor fishermen could not be raised due to illiteracy and lack of organizational capacity necessary to protest such illegal activities of prawn mafias. As a result the fishing activities were restricted to only the days of high tide (6 to 8 days/month). The livelihood crisis badly affected the poor fishermen and their families of the 5 Gram Panchayats. Most of them had quit the profession. Many migrated to Surat, Mumbai, Kolkata etc in search of livelihood. There was an unregistered Fishermen’s committee named Panchubisha Matsyajibi Committee having more than 1000 fishermen members, headed by Kashinath Majhi (present President) functioning for about 30yrs. It dealt with day-to-day activities of fishing and difficulties of fishermen. Till 2010 the committee was not able to either raise voice or protest against the rich and powerful prawn mafias and their illegal activities. After 2010, Kiran Kumar Behera), Ramachandra Majhi, Sridhara Majhi and few more educated local persons were inducted in the Committee. It was decided to work on the issues of poor fishermen and to protect the traditional fishing of Panchubisha. There was no solution found with several discussions with prawn farm owners, local leaders and district fishery/civil administration. Because all the leaders and local /district officials were won over by the rich prawn mafias. In the mean time the Panchubisha fishing jetty was renovated by Govt, of Odisha with NFDB funding and was inaugurated on 28th January 2015. The Minister of Fisharies,Mr. Pradeep Maharathi inaugurated the Jetty and assured to restore the river Panchubisha within a year. But no work was done up to 2017. Finally there was no way seen to save the poor fishermen and their family. Odisha Matshyajibi Forum (OMF) headed by Mr. Narayan Ch. Haldar stood by the movement. It helped in constituting the Baleswar Matsyajibi Forum as a unit of OMF. With the support from OMF the poor fisher people of Bahanaga have been able to knock the doors of the Government. door of Government, and we all just jumped into it. we decide to get freedom from the crices and mafia raj. start digging the river mouth of Panchubisha with our own hand tools. Finding no other way Panchubisha Matsyajibi Committee decided to dig the river on their own. Funds were collected from poor fishermen (Rs. 10 lakhs. approx.) On 16th August 2017 about 1000 poor fishermen entered into the river bed with spades and shovels and dug up the river base from Baramania (place where the natural water source of river was obstructed and diverted) to the Jetty. But it was not sufficient to let the river have its flow, since the river mouth was much higher compared to the water level of the river. This activity got a huge media (both print & electronic) coverage and also a live telecast on News7 all over Odisha. After this publicity the Secretary (Fisheries) woke up and hurriedly deputed the Addl. Director (Marine) Mr. Sudhir Das to Panchubisha. Representatives from OMF and Panchubisha Matsyajibi Committee discussed with him to resolve the problems of restoration of Panchubisha river and the difficulties of the fishermen on 21st Aug 2017. But till today (10th Sept.2017) no action on the ground is taken on behalf of the Government. Only an official letter (copy attached) from DDF Balasore to EE Drainage, Balasore for taking immediate measure to dredge the river mouth. Suffice it to mention that huge and continued mass protest is required to make the government act. The government officials have been warned that failing to act will result in massive protest as the aggrieved fisher people will take to the streets. Led by Odisha Matsyajibi Forum the Odisha Matshyajibi Forum, Balasore the fishing communities of Bahanaga are set to launch a historic action to revive the river Panchubisha.