India, June 7 -- The Odisha Government will provide two tractor-loads of sand free of cost to beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for the construction of their houses, announced Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Friday.

He stated that beneficiaries will also be issued permits to avail sand at an affordable rate across the state. The provision aims to ease the financial burden of those building homes under the Centre's flagship housing scheme.

Minister Pujari informed that the proposal was discussed during the state cabinet meeting held on Friday.

In light of the recent attack on a senior revenue official by the sand mafia in Mayurbhanj district, the Minister also announced that a Standard Oper...