A 20-year-old student has gained global attention after spending months cleaning a polluted river by hand, removing plastic waste and garbage from a section of the Ajnar River in Biaora, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Bittu Tabahi, a Bachelor of Science student, began the cleanup after seeing the worsening condition of the waterway near his community. He initially wanted to build a machine that could help remove the waste, but without enough resources to create one, he decided to start the work himself.
“I wanted to make a machine to clean the river, but I did not have money. I am a student. So I thought I would clean as much as I could with my own hands,” Bittu said, according to reports.
Using basic tools and supplies he bought himself, Bittu entered the polluted river and manually removed accumulated plastic, trash and other debris. Reports said he continued the cleanup even after others stopped joining his efforts, eventually taking on much of the work alone.
The task came with serious health risks. Bittu reportedly developed infections and skin problems after repeatedly coming into contact with polluted water while collecting waste from the river.
Despite the physical toll, he continued returning to the site and documenting his progress. Photos showing the river before and after his cleanup later spread online, showing the visible changes after months of removing garbage from the area.
Bittu’s efforts also drew criticism from some people who questioned his actions and mocked his work. He responded by focusing on the results of his cleanup.
“They make fun of me, call me crazy. Some tell me to clean their household drains. Some call me a sewer cleaner,” Bittu said.
His story eventually gained support online, with many praising his determination to address pollution in his community. Industrialist Anand Mahindra also highlighted Bittu’s work, bringing further attention to the student’s environmental campaign.
While Bittu’s cleanup covered only a section of the Ajnar River, his efforts have sparked wider conversations about water pollution and the impact of individual action in restoring neglected environments.
