Months after Lionel Messi unveiled it, Kolkata takes down his 70-foot statue; here's why

KOLKATA: A 70-foot-tall statue of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi was removed from Kolkata's Lake Town area on Monday after authorities found the structure had become unstable following recent storms.Public Works Department (PWD) officials said the statue was carefully dismantled from its pedestal and lifted onto a truck using a hydraulic crane. Officials said the statue will remain in the custody of the PWD for now, with no decision yet taken on its future location. Speculation has emerged that it could be relocated to Rabindra Sarobar or Eco Park, though the state government has not made any official announcement.Concerns about the monument's safety surfaced earlier this week when local residents informed police that the statue appeared to sway during strong winds and storms. Subsequent inspections by police and PWD personnel prompted a technical review by the contractor.According to officials, the contractor identified defects in the statue's foundation bolts and warned that the structure posed a safety risk and could potentially collapse if left in place.The statue was unveiled in December last year during Messi's visit to Kolkata. The football superstar inaugurated the monument remotely as part of a ceremony organised in the city.The project was promoted by former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose, who was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged municipal recruitment scam.(With PTI inputs)