Dikhyaa Mohanty 
For the purpose of building pucca dwellings, the State government would give free sand to recipients of the PM Awas Yojana and other government housing programs. In order to facilitate the construction of dwellings, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari declared that the government will cover the cost of sand for recipients.
The state government has also implemented a maximum selling price (MSP) for sand to control prices and curb sand mafia activities. Sand ghat leaseholders will sell sand at government-fixed prices, and those selling at higher rates will face action, warns Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena.
The Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 amendment aims to prevent sand theft and crack down on sand mafia. Key changes include leasing sand ghats through e-lottery instead of e-auction, addressing allegations of sand mafias storing and selling sand at inflated prices.
