Ajnar River pollution resurfaces after extensive cleanup efforts

Surendra Singh Chaudhary, a 20-year-old environmental activist known as ‘Bittu Tabahi’, has expressed deep disappointment after the Ajnar River in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district became heavily polluted again. After spending eight months manually clearing tons of debris and plastic from the waterway, Chaudhary found the river once again filled with waste within just 30 days of his recent cleaning efforts.

Chaudhary, a science graduate who previously gained social media attention and recognition from figures like Anand Mahindra, reported that the reaccumulation of trash has undermined his extensive labor. He noted that the pollution is driven by a lack of civic sense, as well as untreated wastewater and industrial discharge from surrounding manufacturing units.

Despite the setback, Chaudhary has resumed his cleanup efforts, returning to the river with gloves and equipment to remove the new layers of waste. His situation has sparked online discussions regarding the necessity of permanent waste management solutions and the challenge of maintaining public spaces when community habits do not change.