Let live and relocate: Govt looks for new sites for Messi statue

Kolkata: The giant Messi statue at Lake Town survived another day on Tuesday as PWD engineers, structural experts and the sculptor behind the installation worked through plans to remove and relocate the structure without damaging it or triggering disruption on the busy airport-bound flank of VIP Road.The authorities are now examining options to shift the 64-ft structure — which has allegedly been swaying during strong winds and sparked safety concerns among residents — to an alternative site, with places such as Eco Park and Rabindra Sarobar under consideration. The officials said a final decision on relocation could come in a day or two.TOI reported on Tuesday that Monumento De Messi was set to be removed after a police complaint alleged that the structure was swaying dangerously during high winds.On Tuesday, PWD officials called sculptor Monti Paul, who designed the statue, to examine ways of dismantling and transporting the structure safely. Paul said a joint inspection with PWD officials lasted around 20 minutes and focused on preserving the structure intact while determining whether it could be shifted elsewhere."The lower portion of the statue is lighter while the upper portion is heavier. But a decision was taken that the statue will not be dismantled. It will be relocated," Paul said.PWD engineers also examined whether reducing the height of the concrete plinth could lower the risk factor. The officials said discussions were under way on bringing down the 20-ft base substantially, possibly to around 5 feet, if the structure remains at another location.The engineers conducted another inspection on Tuesday and prepared a preliminary plan for removal. Officials said the entire statue would first be secured using heavy-duty cables before a 40-tonne crane holds it in position. Workers would then cut through the iron framework near the statue's leg supports and lift it away in one piece.A structural engineering expert from Jadavpur University who assessed the issue termed the present condition unsafe. PWD officials also pointed to design-related concerns involving load distribution and balance."The statue's feet have not been properly balanced. That is an engineering problem. Because of that, the statue is swaying, especially during heavy winds. In case of any major storm, the structure may become unstable and topple and therefore it should be removed," a PWD official said.