 A total of 292.81 km2 falls under dense forest areas, of which only 22.43 km2 was tree bearing.About 220 out of 430 km2 of the Gandamanur forest range under the Madurai Forest Division had encroached in the past four decades.Large areas of Ulloothu Kavu, Anjaraipuli, Elamalaipoodu, Arasaradi, Bommarasapuram, and neighboring villages were also encroached.