MP youth’s mission to clean Ajnar River gets civic support

Wading into a polluted river with little more than determination, 21-year-old BSc student Surendra Singh Chaudhary has been trying to reclaim the Ajnar River in Biaora from years of accumulated garbage and debris. His initiative, started on January 26, has now received support from the local municipality, which has deployed heavy machinery for the clean-up.

Known on social media as ‘Bittu Tabahi’, Chaudhary initially undertook the work largely on his own, removing plastic, polythene and other waste from the river. He regularly shared photographs documenting the condition of the river and the progress of his campaign, drawing attention to the pollution of the water body.

The clean-up has involved considerable health and safety risks. Chaudhary suffered infections in his limbs while working in the polluted water, particularly near a local temple, and also encountered snakes during the operation. Despite the difficulties, he continued the campaign. His efforts eventually prompted local residents and civic officials to participate. Biaora municipal sub-engineer Rupesh Kumar Netam said the municipality provided a Poclain excavator to remove old waste, debris and polythene that had accumulated in the river. Residents also joined the clean-up drive.

Netam said the municipality undertakes cleaning of the river and drains every year before the monsoon. The increased water flow during the rainy season subsequently helps wash away some of the remaining debris. He also confirmed that the before-and-after photographs shared by Chaudhary on social media were authentic and reflected the actual condition of the river at different stages of the clean-up. Officials, however, said the visible garbage is only one part of the problem. Five major drains discharge wastewater into the river, making untreated sewage a major source of pollution.

To address the problem at its source, the municipality has prepared a proposal to construct a sewage treatment plant (STP) at an estimated cost of Rs 14.77 crore. The proposed facility would treat wastewater before it is discharged into the river.

Chaudhary’s campaign has consequently turned the Ajnar River into a subject of wider civic discussion. What started as an individual effort has brought residents and the municipality together, while the proposed sewage treatment plant is expected to provide a more sustainable response to the river’s long-standing pollution problem.