Dustbin Theft Undermines Ajnar River Cleanup Effort

Surendra Singh Choudhary, a 20-year-old environmental activist who is popularly known as Bittu Tabahi, has been cleaning the Ajnar River in Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, for several months. After an eight-month campaign that removed large amounts of plastic bags and other debris, waste began to accumulate again along the riverbank, prompting Choudhary to resume on-site cleaning and to add waste-collection infrastructure.

Bittu Tabahi places 2 dustbins to curb Ajnar River pollution, one gets stolen the next day: Video Bittu Tabahi Disheartened After Dustbin Placed To Keep River Clean Gets Stolen Bittu Tabahi places 2 dustbins along Ajnar riverbank, returns to find one stolen 'Bittu Tabahi kya kya kare?' 20-year-old MP activist places 2 dustbins along Ajnar River bank, next day 1 goes missing CNN-News18

On Friday, October 16, Choudhary installed two dustbins near a tree on the riverbank to give visitors a convenient place to discard litter. When he returned later that day, one of the bins was missing. He also reported that the metal drums he had placed for public use had been taken. The activist shared a video of the river’s condition and his disappointment on Instagram, emphasizing that the containers were intended for community use, not personal benefit.

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• Two dustbins were installed; one was stolen.

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• The cleanup effort spanned eight months before waste began to re-accumulate.

Bittu Tabahi places 2 dustbins to curb Ajnar River pollution, one gets stolen the next day: Video

• The river stretch in question lies within Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh.

Bittu Tabahi places 2 dustbins along Ajnar riverbank, returns to find one stolen

He reiterated that the containers were placed “not for my personal use” but for public convenience.

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• “India does not deserve bittu tabahi.” — Another

'Bittu Tabahi kya kya kare?' 20-year-old MP activist places 2 dustbins along Ajnar River bank, next day 1 goes missing

The theft highlights the challenges faced by individual volunteers when public infrastructure is vulnerable to vandalism or theft. Without reliable waste-collection points, litter can quickly return to waterways, undermining long-term environmental restoration efforts. The incident has sparked online discussion about civic responsibility and the need for community or governmental support to protect such initiatives.

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