The historical Bankeswari Temple at the foot of Bankadar hill has been destroyed by NHAI contractor Orient Construction, alleged Citizen Forum and Malyagiri Surakhya Samitti president Dr Santosh Dehury before the Sub-Collector here.
The temple is under the Devottar Department ofAngul district.
Dehury alleged that the contractor dismantled the templewithout notice to the concerned authorities and not even to the Pallahara King.
When people complained, the company workers have remained silent.
But the company is reluctant to restore the temple.
According toa folklore, while the King of Keonjhar had attacked the erstwhile Pallahara State, goddess Kundhebira had saved the kingdom.
The King of Pallahara had constructed the temple for Maa Bankeswari.
Now the people of Pallahara are demanding before thelocal administration to investigate the matter and restore the monument.
They have threatened to launch an agitation if the demand goes unheeded.
