Officials from Myanmar’s Department of Archaeology and National Museum have said illegal settlements in Rakhine State’s Mrauk-U will be removed within six months, ahead of the expected visit of experts evaluating the ancient city’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage status, reports the Development Media Group (DMG).

DMG cites Kyi Khin, director of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mrauk-U branch), who says that about 600 illegal settlements in Mrauk-U, the houses of squatters near the moats and office of the Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department will be removed on a prioritised basis.

He says that everything that affects the view of ancient buildings will be removed.

The department notes that squatters near Thakya Manaung and Yadanar Manaung pagodas will be evicted from the area in phases, with alternative land options being provided for those evicted.

The report says that experts are due to make Mrauk-U field visits in the coming months, with the World Heritage Committee expected to make a decision thereafter on whether the ancient city should be added to the World Heritage List.