Decommissioning of the Lionel Messi Monument in Lake Town Due to Structural Instability

Lake Town 的梅西雕像因結構不穩而被拆除

Jun 1, 2026, 13:44
AsiaSports

Introduction

The West Bengal state government has dismantled a 70-foot monument depicting Lionel Messi in the Lake Town district of Kolkata following the identification of critical safety hazards.

西孟加拉邦政府在發現嚴重安全隱患後，拆除了位於加爾各答 Lake Town 區一座 70 英尺高、以利昂內爾·梅西為原型的雕像。

Main Body

The monument, comprising a 45-foot fiberglass and iron figure atop a plinth, was inaugurated in December 2025 during the subject's 'GOAT' promotional tour. The installation was facilitated by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club under the leadership of Sujit Bose, a former legislator currently detained by the Enforcement Directorate regarding alleged municipal recruitment irregularities.

該雕像由一座 45 英尺高的玻璃纖維與鐵製人像置於基座上組成，於 2025 年 12 月該對象的 "GOAT" 宣傳之旅期間揭幕。此裝置是由 Sree Bhumi Sporting Club 在 Sujit Bose 的領導下促成，Sujit Bose 為前立法議員，目前因涉嫌市政招聘舞弊而被執行局拘留。

Institutional intervention was precipitated by reports from local residents concerning the structure's oscillation during periods of high wind velocity. Preliminary mitigation efforts included the application of heavy-duty nylon ropes and the establishment of perimeter barricades to secure the site. Subsequent technical evaluations conducted by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the project contractor identified systemic failures in the foundation bolts, rendering the structure susceptible to collapse.

由於當地居民舉報結構在強風期間會產生擺動，促使機構介入。初步緩解措施包括使用重型尼龍繩以及設置周邊路障以確保現場安全。隨後由公共工程局 (PWD) 及項目承包商進行的技術評估發現，地基螺栓存在系統性失效，導致結構容易崩塌。

Due to the monument's proximity to a high-traffic thoroughfare and a subway, the removal process required precise coordination. The PWD utilized a hydraulic crane to extract the statue from its pedestal without incurring material damage. While the structure is currently held in PWD custody at the Bidhannagar office, a definitive determination regarding its relocation remains pending, notwithstanding speculative suggestions of installation at Eco Park or Rabindra Sarobar.

由於雕像鄰近高流量主幹道與地鐵站，拆除過程需要精確協調。PWD 使用液壓起重機將雕像從基座移走，未造成物料損壞。雖然該結構目前由 PWD 在 Bidhannagar 辦公室保管，但關於重新安置的最終決定仍待定，儘管有建議安裝在 Eco Park 或 Rabindra Sarobar。

Conclusion

The statue has been successfully removed from its original site and remains under state custody pending a final decision on its disposition.

雕像已成功從原址移走，目前由政府保管，等待最終處置決定。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Nominalization: From Narrative to Institutional Prose

To transcend the B2 plateau, a student must move beyond actions (verbs) and begin mastering concepts (nouns). This text is a goldmine of Nominalization—the process of turning verbs or adjectives into nouns to create a detached, authoritative, and formal tone.

⚡ The C2 Pivot: Verb →\rightarrow Nominal

Observe how the text strips away the 'human' agent to emphasize the 'process'. Compare these two registers:

  • B2 (Action-Oriented): The government intervened because residents reported that the statue was shaking in the wind.
  • C2 (Institutional/Nominalized): Institutional intervention was precipitated by reports... concerning the structure's oscillation.

The Linguistic Alchemy at Work:

  1. Intervene →\rightarrow Intervention: Shifts focus from who did it to the fact that it happened.
  2. Precipitate: A high-level transitive verb meaning 'to cause to happen suddenly'. Using this instead of 'caused' elevates the register to a scholarly level.
  3. Oscillate →\rightarrow Oscillation: Replacing 'shaking' (basic) or 'swaying' (intermediate) with 'oscillation' introduces technical precision.

🛠️ Syntactic Sophistication: The 'Heavy' Subject

C2 mastery involves constructing sentences where the subject is not a simple pronoun, but a complex noun phrase.

"...a definitive determination regarding its relocation remains pending..."

Instead of saying "They haven't decided where to put it yet," the writer uses a compound nominal chain: Definitive determination →\rightarrow regarding its relocation →\rightarrow remains pending.

Why this matters: This structure allows the writer to embed a massive amount of information into the subject position, delaying the verb and creating a sense of inevitable, bureaucratic gravity. It removes subjectivity and replaces it with an aura of officiality.

Vocabulary Learning

dismantled (v.)
to take apart or break down a structure into its component parts
Example:The workers dismantled the monument before the cleanup began.
fiberglass (n.)
a composite material made of fine glass fibers and resin
Example:The statue was constructed from durable fiberglass to withstand weather.
plinth (n.)
a base or platform on which a statue or monument stands
Example:The plinth provided a sturdy foundation for the towering figure.
inaugurated (v.)
to formally open or begin a public building or event
Example:The monument was inaugurated with great fanfare in December 2025.
facilitated (v.)
to make a process easier or more efficient
Example:The club facilitated the installation of the statue by coordinating logistics.
leadership (n.)
the action of leading or the position of a leader
Example:Leadership of the club was under Sujit Bose during the project.
detained (v.)
to hold someone in custody, typically by law enforcement
Example:The former legislator was detained by the Enforcement Directorate.
irregularities (n.)
deviations from the norm or expected standards
Example:The audit revealed several irregularities in the municipal recruitment process.
precipitated (v.)
to cause something to happen suddenly or abruptly
Example:The reports precipitated an institutional intervention.
oscillation (n.)
a repeated back-and-forth movement or fluctuation
Example:Engineers noted the oscillation of the structure during high winds.
velocity (n.)
the speed of something in a particular direction
Example:The wind velocity during the storm exceeded 80 km/h.
susceptible (adj.)
likely to be influenced or harmed by something
Example:The structure was susceptible to collapse under extreme conditions.
hydraulic crane (n.)
a crane powered by hydraulic fluid, used for heavy lifting
Example:A hydraulic crane lifted the statue from its pedestal.
perimeter barricades (n.)
barriers placed around an area to restrict access
Example:Perimeter barricades were erected to secure the site.
custody (n.)
the protective care or guardianship of someone or something
Example:The monument is currently in PWD custody.
Practice C2 words in a crossword→