The plantation and flood-protection works in the catchment areas of the 800 MW Kol Dam Project spread over 1,22,000 hectares in four districts, Shimla, Solan, Bilaspur and Mandi, could not be started as the state Finance Department has not released an amount of Rs 32.23 crore deposited by the National Thermal Power Corporation, which is executing the works of the Kol Dam Project, in March, 2004, for the implementation of the Catchment Area Treatment (CAT) Plan. According to a highly-placed source from the Forest Department, the rainy season was almost over which was considered best for the plantation in this area, as per the practice the plantation was done in the area during the months of July and August as the rainfall was comparatively low for rest of the year.