The power of one: How ‘Bittu Tabahi’s solo river clean-up sparks municipal action in MP’s Rajgarh

RAJGARH (Madhya Pradesh): “The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself”. This quote by Bryce Courtenay rings true in the case of Surendra Singh Chaudhary, known online as ‘Bittu Tabahi’, who has sparked a viral moment after he began cleaning a polluted Ajnar river in Biaora alone and emerged successful in his goal and also triggred major municipal action along with way for the betterment of all.

Starting with nothing but a shovel, sheer will, and no budget for machinery, a 21-year-old B.Sc. student took on a river everyone else had learned to ignore and ended up proving that one determined person can move what an entire town had overlooked for years.

#WATCH | Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh: Speaking on his campaign, Surendra Singh Chaudhary says, “It’s the river that flows right through the middle of our town, Biaora; that is the river I am currently cleaning up… I had been visiting a temple located right behind the river for a… https://t.co/faF9YHbqis pic.twitter.com/Lv8cOFpwOY

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2026

‘Bittu Tabahi’ went viral after he started sharing the before-and-after comparison of the river on social media, drawing widespread attention. The moment he decided to clean the river wasn’t grand or some epiphany, but a simple thought during his frequent visits to a temple near the river, where he noticed people recoiling from the smell and garbage.

A man single-handedly cleans an entire river in his village.

A 20-year-old student in India is going viral for cleaning a polluted river by himself. Bittu Tabahi has removed plastic and trash from the water, spending his own money on supplies despite getting infections on his… pic.twitter.com/YIiYMOVj7z

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) September 3, 2026

He began cleaning the Ajnar River in Biaora on January 26, coinciding with Independence Day and faced real risks along the way, including limb infections and snake encounters, but continued the cleanup alone until the local municipal corporation took notice.

“It’s the river that flows right through the middle of our town, Biaora; that is the river I am currently cleaning up”, he said.   He initially considered building a machine to clear the debris but lacked the budget.

“Then, when January 26 arrived, I thought it was a good day to do something meaningful… Since then, I haven’t stopped and have kept at it continuously,” he said, adding, “I started alone; they (municipal corporation) saw what I was doing and then offered their support.”

#WATCH | Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh: Drone visuals show the changing face of the Ajnar River in Biaora, after 21-year-old https://t.co/j5uUgYTay8. student Surendra Singh Chaudhary, aka ‘Bittu Tabahi’, launched a single-handed cleanup campaign. https://t.co/faF9YHbqis pic.twitter.com/e8pHmnaUJD

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2026

The Biaora Municipal Corporation has since backed his effort by deploying JCB and Poclain machines to clear accumulated waste and polythene. Sub-Engineer Rupesh Kumar Netam spoke about the authenticity of Chaudhary’s viral photos and explained the scale of the underlying problem.

“The main issue is that five large drains discharge into the Biaora River; to stop this wastewater, we have prepared a proposal to construct an STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) costing approximately Rs 14.77 crore”, he said, adding that the municipality carries out cleaning drives before every monsoon.

#WATCH | Rajgarh, Madhya Pradesh: Sub-Engineer at Municipal Corporation, Biaora, Rupesh Kumar Netam, says, “There is a young man named Bittu (real name: Surendra Singh Chaudhary) who regularly cleans the Ajnar River in Biaora; the municipality also provides him with support in… https://t.co/faF9YHaSsU pic.twitter.com/Q8VkODoE2V

— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2026

“He started very well; we, along with the local citizens, contributed to cleaning the river. The municipality deployed a Poclain excavator to clear away the accumulated old waste and debris. Subsequently, the remaining waste was washed away by the flow of water during the monsoon season”, he said.

Netam said that the ‘before-and-after’ photos posted on social media are authentic, which has been an ongoing allegation since the videos first started.

In his Instagram videos, Chaudhary has often reflected on people’s doubts about what one person could possibly do, but he says his journey now stands as proof of what a single individual can accomplish. (ANI)