His efforts have now received support from the local municipality, while Ocean Cleanup CEO Boyan Slat reacted to a post about his work by inviting him to join the organisation. A 21-year-old BSc student from Madhya Pradesh has drawn attention on social media for taking up the task of cleaning the polluted Ajnar River in Biaora.
Surendra Singh Chaudhary, known on social media as “Bittu Tabahi” , began the campaign on January 26, 2026, and has been cleaning waste and debris from the river largely on his own.
Biaora Municipal Corporation Sub-Engineer Rupesh Kumar Netam said the municipality has supported Chaudhary’s campaign by providing heavy machinery to remove accumulated waste. “There is a young man named Surendra Singh Chaudhary who regularly cleans the Ajnar River in Biaora, the municipality also provides him with support in this effort,” Mr Netam said, according to ANI.
His reaction came in response to a post featuring photographs of Bittu and the river he cleaned. The photographs showed the condition of the river before and after the cleanup. Reacting to the post, Ocean Cleanup CEO Boyan Slat wrote, “Come work for us. He has also faced infections in his limbs while carrying out the clean-up near a local temple. His efforts have attracted attention on social media, where he has shared photographs showing the condition of the river before and after the clean-up.
Chaudhary has continued cleaning the river despite health risks and encounters with snakes, according to news agency ANI.
