Biaora(Madhya Pradesh): A 21-year-old college student from Madhya Pradesh has turned an unlikely social media identity into an environmental campaign after spending months cleaning a heavily polluted river largely on his own.
Surendra Singh Choudhary, better known online as Bittu Tabahi, has been removing plastic, algae, sludge and other waste from the Ajnar River in Biaora, Rajgarh district. His efforts, which began on Republic Day this year, have now attracted international attention after Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of Netherlands-based The Ocean Cleanup, invited him to join the organisation.
“Come work for us,” Slat wrote in response to a social media post showcasing Choudhary’s work.
A second-year BSc student, Choudhary lives with his parents and initially began the clean-up with the help of a few friends. As the campaign continued, however, much of the work fell on him. Videos posted online show him entering polluted stretches of the river and manually removing accumulated waste.
Why did Bittu start cleaning the river?
Choudhary reportedly started the campaign after seeing the deteriorating condition of the Ajnar River, particularly around a local temple. Instead of waiting for a civic body or environmental group to intervene, he decided to begin the clean-up himself.
The effort has reportedly come at a personal cost. Choudhary has spent money from his own savings on supplies and faced health risks while working in contaminated water. Reports say he suffered skin irritation and infections and encountered snakes during the clean-up.
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His unconventional approach initially drew criticism, with some people questioning why a young student was taking on a task normally associated with government agencies or organised groups. He continued nevertheless.
His videos eventually gained traction online, bringing wider attention to the condition of the river. Industrialist Anand Mahindra was among those who praised his initiative.
The biggest boost came when a post highlighting Choudhary’s transformation of the river reached Slat. The Ocean Cleanup, which works to tackle plastic pollution in oceans and rivers, subsequently offered him an opportunity to work with the organisation.
Choudhary’s campaign has also drawn attention from the Madhya Pradesh government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav met him and assured him of government support.
While his story has become an example of individual initiative, it also highlights a larger problem. Removing waste from a river is only a temporary solution unless plastic dumping, sewage and poor waste management are addressed. Choudhary’s efforts may have put the Ajnar River in the spotlight, but keeping it clean will require sustained action from authorities and the local community.
