Surendra Singh Choudhary, known online as Bittu Tabahi, has drawn nationwide attention in India for taking on the polluted Ajnar River in Biaora, Madhya Pradesh.
Beginning his cleanup in 2026, he spent months removing plastic, bottles, algae and other waste largely by hand, often paying for supplies himself.
Some sections reportedly took more than three months to clean, and repeated exposure to the polluted water caused infections to his hands and feet.
His before-and-after videos eventually went viral, attracting praise from figures including Anand Mahindra.
The effort later reached Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, who publicly responded to Bittu’s work with an invitation to join the organization.