'Heritage Structure' Tag for Ancient Church in Thane Delays

An ancient Portuguese church in Thane, Maharashtr, might fail to receive 'heritage structure' tag as the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has failed to enlist the structure in state's heritage list. mumbailaity

An ancient Portuguese church in Thane, Maharashtr, might fail to receive 'heritage structure' tag as the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has failed to enlist the structure in state's heritage list.

The priest and parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Pokharan road II, Thane, have been struggling to get a declaration from heritage committee since 2012.

"Built in 1562, this is an ancient church and, like other structures in the city, needs to be protected and preserved," said Fr Melwyn Fernandes.

Last year, a resident of Bandra resident wrote to the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums about the need to preserve the church.

"It is a monument of Indo-Portuguese architecture and needs to be preserved," said Vinod Roshan D'Souza, who picks up various social causes.

On Jan. 18, 2018, when the directorate replied, he pointed out TMC's failure to include the church building in the heritage structure list.

TMC commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal said that there is nothing much to preserve.

"The heritage committee is examining the proposal. However, according to a TMC official, there is hardly anything to preserve," Jaiswal told DNA.