NINH BÌNH — Illegal construction on Cái Hạ Mountain inside the UNESCO heritage site of Tràng An in the northern province of Ninh Bình has been completely removed, local authorities confirmed on July 10.

“The dismantling task did not affect the heritage site much,” said Vũ Văn Huân, chairman of Hoa Lư District’s People’s Committee.

Huân further said the committee and concerned individuals have admitted their mistakes for not preventing the construction from being built.

Nguyễn Đức Lợi, chairman of the People’s Committee of Trường Yên Commune, said he himself and leaders of the commune deserved blame.

Tràng An Tourism Company last August cut into Cái Hạ Mountain and constructed a staircase leading up to Huyền Vũ Peak. The staircase runs a length of over 1km with 2,000 steps and handrails on both sides to serve tourists.

The company also constructed supporting facilities like public toilets.

The construction was almost completed after six months and has been open to visitors since this year’s Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Ninh Bình Province’s Tourism Department reported and asked the provincial People’s Committee and Hoa Lư District’s People’s Committee to deal with the violation and remove the walkway.

Nguyễn Văn Son, director of Tràng An Tourism Company, started to direct the dismantling in March, promised to remove the walkway by April 30 and then asked for the deadline to be extended twice to the middle of June.

The Tràng An Landscape Complex was listed among World Heritage sites by UNESCO on June 23, 2014.

The complex, a mixed cultural and natural property, covers more than 6,000ha with three areas including the Hoa Lư Ancient Imperial Capital, which was chosen by various kings of the Đinh, early Lê and the beginning of Lý reigns between 968-1009; the Tràng An – Tam Cốc – Bích Động rivers and karst mountains site and Hoa Lư Primitive Forest stretching over the districts of Hoa Lư, Gia Viễn, Nho Quan, Tam Hiệp Town and Ninh Bình City in Ninh Bình Province. — VNS