The Indian government has announced that it has suspended the environmental clearance issued to Vedanta’s Sesa Goa Ltd for the Pirna iron ore mine project in North Goa. The Pirna iron ore mine project, proposed at Pirna and Nadora villages, had received clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests on 9 June 2009. However, following a 10 May 2010 order of the National Environment Appellate Authority, the ministry issued a letter to the company suspending its clearance with immediate effect. The NEAA ruling came after a local group, the Pirna Naroda Nagrik Kruti Samiti, challenged the original clearance, saying that 100% of those present at the public hearing for the project had opposed the mine. However, the Expert Appraisal Committee overlooked the opposition and granted the clearance. The NEAA directed that the clearance be suspended until an EAC sub committee visited the area and examined the reasons for local opposition to the mines and the impact on agriculture, health and environmental conditions.