Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 9: Sevayats at Lingaraj temple will soon have their work assigned to them in a more transparent manner, leaving no room for overlapping of assignments.

The temple administration has decided to issue a record of rights to the sevayats.

This would help in streamlining functioning of the temple on the lines of the Jagannath temple in Puri. The administration has already provided the necessary details to the endowment department.

“The endowment department will take the necessary steps to provide the record of rights as early as possible,” said Abani Patnaik, executive officer of the temple.

The authorities have also formed an advisory body for the temple’s maintenance. The committee would include the temple trust’s executive officer, priests representatives, experts of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and an officer from the state endowment wing. The committee, which is believed to have been constituted in the wake of a stone falling from the dome of a gate at Jagannath temple, will keep an eye on the conservation of the 11th century shrine.

Sources said with vegetation growing all over the Lingraj temple premises and also on the domes, chances of a Jagannath temple-like accident could not be ruled out.

The temple is faced with a plethora of problems such as bad sanitation on the premises, shrinkage of space for people to move around, fights between priests and temple administration and infighting among the sevayats. A servitor died on August 8 following violence between two groups of priests.

The dumping of garbage around the temple premises has also affected sanitation.

Though the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has initiated a drive to keep the temple surroundings clean, so far the intended results have not been delivered.

Unauthorised encroachments have led to the space inside the temple being cramped. Lack of a proper parking lot is also a concern for the temple authorities. The temple has been dragged into the imbroglio of a pending electric bill. The devotees have asked the temple administration for better facilities.

“Better sanitary facilities should be provided and the authorities should ensure that no one behaves badly with a tourist inside the temple,” said Suryanil Palit, a devotee from Bengal. Servitors have also asked for support from the temple authorities. “Everyone is aware of the tension. The authorities need to maintain a healthy relationship with the sevayats and at the same time they should not impose rules and regulations on us,” said a priest of the temple.

Executive officer of the temple Abani Patnaik said the administration had decided to ban polythene on the premises.

“We will start an awareness campaign to dissuade devotees from taking polythene bags into the temple,” said Patnaik.