Bhubaneswar, Jan. 17: Puri Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingh Deb today skipped the meeting of the Sri Jagannath Temple managing committee, fuelling speculations about his possible differences with the temple administration.

The meeting took some major decisions, including enhancement of the salaries of the temple's 240 class III and IV employees.

The Puri king is the permanent chairman of the temple management committee and is supposed to preside over all the meetings related to Nabakalebar (change of the Puri Jagannath temple idols) scheduled in July. However, it appears that the state government officials are having a major say in the matter this time.

However, Jagannath temple public relations officer Laxmidhara Pujapanda said: 'There is no dispute at all. Everything is being done according to the instructions of the Gajapati.'

The temple administration indicated that the Gajapati could not attend the meeting because some personal work had come up at the last moment. But, no official communication was received from the Gajapati in this regard till the last moment.

Senior committee member Mahi Mohan Tripathy, who presided over the meeting in the absence of the Gajapati, said: 'He could not turn up due to some personal problems. According to the norms, in the absence of the chairman, the members present can choose anyone to preside over the meeting.'

The meeting took a decision regarding raising the salaries of its 240 class III and IV employees. These employees had launched an agitation last month, demanding a hike in their salaries. Sources said the temple management committee raised the salaries of its class III employees to Rs 10,400 and class IV employees to Rs 9,000.

The meeting also decided to give health insurance coverage to the servitors. As nearly 50 lakh people are expected to visit Puri to witness Nabakalabar, the committee has decided to go full throttle to develop infrastructure, including the roads around the 12th Century shrine.

According to the proposal, land belonging to various mutts will be acquired around the temple to widen the existing roads. The mutts will be given compensation.

The administration also discussed the procedures and work related to the identification of the neem tree that is to be used for making of the idols of Lord Jagannath and His siblings.

It also discussed the suitability of the three pieces of land near Malatipatapur Samagara and Sipasarubali mouzas to set up a medical college. 'The technical committee will take a final call on this issue,' said an official.