Biaora, Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh | October 15, 2026

Environmental activist Surendra Singh Choudhary, popularly known as Bittu Tabahi, has expressed disappointment after finding the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh polluted with garbage again, months after his extensive cleanup efforts.

Choudhary, who hails from Biaora in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, spent around eight months removing plastic waste, discarded clothes, religious offerings and other rubbish from the river. His efforts attracted widespread attention on social media, where before-and-after videos highlighted the transformation of polluted stretches of the waterway.

However, in a video shared on Instagram this week, Choudhary showed plastic bags and other waste floating in the river once again. He voiced his frustration over seeing the waterway return to a polluted state after months of work.

Despite the setback, the young activist has resumed cleaning the river, collecting waste from the water and appealing for suggestions on how to tackle the problem more effectively.

His initiative has previously received widespread recognition, including praise from public figures and an offer of work from the Netherlands-based environmental organisation The Ocean Cleanup, according to media reports.

The latest development has renewed the debate over public responsibility for maintaining cleanliness in rivers and other water bodies. While individual initiatives can help remove accumulated waste, preventing pollution also requires responsible waste disposal, effective civic management and sustained public participation.

The recurring pollution of the Ajnar River highlights a wider environmental challenge: cleaning a river is only the beginning; keeping it clean requires a collective and continuing effort.