The High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday took the State government to task on its apathy in protecting the forest area in sensitive zones and ordered a stay on the construction of two mini hydel projects.

During the hearing of a petition filed by Prashanth Yavagal and Western Ghats Environment Forum, challenging the permission accorded to set up mini hydel projects in the Western ghats, the Division Bench headed by Justice D V Shylendra Kumar observed that the government was the number one enemy when it came to protection of forests.