Opportunity to truly reform mining governance to balance economic growth with social justice and environmental safety has been lost Photo by Chandra Bhushan The upper house of Parliament on Friday passed the controversial mining bill, which is perceived as anti-people and pro-miners. The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) (Amendment) Bill (MMDR), 2015, tabled before Parliament to amend the mining Act of 1957, was passed on the strength of 117 votes; 69 members voted against it and two abstained from voting. The members of Janata Dal (United) walked out in protest as voting started.