Local MLA from Pilibhit and minister in the UP government Riaz Ahmad has written to the PM, requesting that a new provisions be added to the Pradhanmantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PFBY) for providing compensation to farmers whose crops are damaged by wild animals. The scheme does not cover this type of crop loss. The request comes in the wake of massive damage to standing cane and paddy crops by elephant herds over the past few weeks in the areas situated along the Indo-Nepal border. District magistrate Masoom Ali Sarvar has directed the agriculture as well as the social forestry department to prepare a report on the total agricultural area affected by the wild animals. In a recent incident, a herd of around 40 pachyderms trampled over crops spread over 10 acres and vegetables plots at village Naujalha Nakta Number 2 on Sunday night. A team of revenue department officials has inspected the damaged crops to assess the quantum of loss while a team of social forestry comprising the SDO, the range officer and forest guards was sent by divisional director Adarsh Kumar to camp in the affected village during the night. Minister of state (independent charge) for fishery and public enterprise Riaz Ahmad said a total of 2,33,387 hectare in the district comprises agricultural land and crops cultivated in more than 50% of this land are likely to be damaged due to frequent movement of wild animals through them. Referring to the 690-km-long periphery of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR), Ahmad said except 50- to-60-km-long part of this periphery that adjoins the forest areas in Nepal and Uttarakhand, the rest adjoins agricultural belts of the district.