Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board launches cleanliness drive at Azadpur, Okhla Mandis
The Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board has launched an intensive, round-the-clock cleanliness and anti-encroachment drive at Azadpur Mandi and Okhla Sub-Mandi. The drive is launched as part of the Chief Minister’s “Delhi Ko Kude Se Azadi, Swachhata Abhiyan 2026” campaign running from August 17 to October 2, 2026.
To carry out the drive, the Board has deployed a special task force comprising Junior Engineers, Assistant Engineers and Executive Engineers to monitor cleanliness and garbage disposal work across morning, evening and night shifts. Deputy Secretary Deepak Sareen has been appointed Nodal Officer for the campaign, tasked with ensuring administrative control and accountability. Sareen has warned that immediate and severe disciplinary action will be taken under relevant service rules against any officer or employee found negligent or disregarding orders.
The Board has taken a strict stance against infrastructure deficiencies within the mandi premises and against those found spreading filth. Executive Engineers and Assistant Engineers are conducting daily inspections to ensure potholes are repaired immediately and that no sewer or manhole cover remains broken or missing. Strict instructions have also been issued for imposing immediate cash fines on anyone caught littering or spreading filth on the premises.
A mandatory special cleanliness and anti-encroachment drive was conducted across the entire mandi premises on Sunday, August 23, yielding what officials described as highly positive results in both mandi yards. Teams carried out intensive cleaning of main roads, internal lanes and auction platforms using machines and personnel across the Sabzi Mandi Azadpur, Fruit Mandi Azadpur and Okhla Mandi areas. Fruit and vegetable waste was removed immediately with the help of a fleet of tractors and tippers, while a special night shift was deployed to ensure the mandi remained clean before morning trade began.
As part of monsoon preparedness, desilting work was completed at sensitive locations across stormwater drains, gully traps and sewer lines to prevent waterlogging, with additional pumps and personnel deployed at these sites. The Board has also begun identifying and replacing damaged manhole covers to prevent future accidents.
Alongside the cleanliness drive, significant action was taken against illegal encroachment, leading to major improvements in mandi management.
The entire premises of Shed No. 13 were cleared of illegal street vendors and hawkers, following which 10 cleared auction sites were handed over to apple traders, with fencing installed at the remaining spots.
Enforcement and security teams also removed illegal vendors operating between Gate No. 1 of NSM and the A-Block police chowki, with encroached structures including illegal carts, rickshaws, tables and chairs demolished on the spot using a JCB machine. In a gesture of social responsibility, all fresh fruits and vegetables seized from illegal vendors during the campaign were donated to local orphanages, according to the Board.
The Delhi Agricultural Marketing Board has appealed to all traders, commission agents and visitors to extend full cooperation in keeping what it described as Asia’s largest wholesale market clean, hygienic and well organised.
The drive at Azadpur and Okhla mandis forms part of the broader citywide cleanliness campaign launched by the Delhi government, with the Board’s efforts specifically targeting infrastructure repair, encroachment removal and waste management within the two major wholesale markets under its jurisdiction.
