Bathinda: A day after reporting only 94 fare fires, Punjab saw a fresh surge in stubble burning on Thursday, recording 351 new cases and taking the season's tally past the psychological 3,000-figure mark to 3,284. With cases not abating, police registered 120 FIRs over violations during the day. With it, the number of FIRs registered for stubble burning rose to 1,092 for the season. The developments came on a day when the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairperson Rajesh Sharma was on a tour of the state. He visited at least three thermal plants in Punjab to review stubble management at the ground level and the use of biomass pellets (which are made from paddy stubble) as substitutes for coal at the plants. Verma observed that there had been an improvement in the state over last year. Recalling his visit to Punjab on Nov 13 last year, he said, "At that time, smoke was visible everywhere, but today the sun is shining bright. Even fireworks were seen during Gurpurab celebrations yesterday-a sign of clearer skies."Verma visited thermal plants in Nabha, Rajpura and Bathinda. While the state has recorded 3,284 farm fire cases so far this year, the figure for the corresponding period was 5,041 in 2024 and 19,463 in 2023. During the day, Madhya Pradesh too recorded a high number of farm fire incidents, 354.Among districts in Punjab, Sangrur has recorded the highest number of cases, 557. It is followed by 537 in Tarn Taran, 325 in Ferozepur, 279 in Amritsar, 228 in Bathinda, 189 in Patiala, 165 in Moga, 152 in Mansa, 146 in Muktsar, 113 in Ludhiana, 111 in Kapurthala, 75 in Faridkot, 70 in Barnala, 69 in Fazilka, 64 in Gurdaspur, 62 in Malerkotla, 54 in Jalandhar, 34 in Fatehgarh Sahib, 27 in SAS Nagar, 15 in Hoshiarpur, 11 in SBS Nagar, and one in Pathankot. Ropar has not recorded a singe case so far. During the day, 106 red entries were marked against land records of violating farmers, taking the total count to 1,328. Also, 40 show-cause notices were issued to nodal/supervisory officers, taking the season's tally to 690. Prosecution action was initiated against two more nodal/supervisory officers under section 14 of the CAQM Act, taking the count to 11. The FIRs have been filed under section 223 BNS (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant). More cases are expected in coming days as 91.5% of paddy has so far been harvested in the state. Biopellet use less in Bathinda plantCommission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairman Rajesh Verma, during his visit to Guru Hargobind Thermal Power Plant at Lehra Mohabbat village in Bathinda district, found that biomass pellets were being used less than what has been mandated. As per Union govt directions, at least 5% biomass pellets should be used along with coal for co-firing in coal-fired power plants. The usage at the power plant was found to be nearly 2.5% of the total coal consumption. The short supply of non-torrefied pellets was cited as the reason for the reduced usage. Guru Hargobind Thermal Plant's chief engineer Tej Bansal said 16,000 tonnes of coal arrived daily in four trains at the power plant, and nearly 400 tonnes of biomass pellets were being used for power generation. Bansal said the plant needed at least 1,000 tonnes of biomass pellets every day for co-firing. "Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has also issued directions to obtain supplies of pellets from Punjab-based manufacturing facilities, but we are not getting adequate supplies," he said. Farm fires in PbYear | On Nov 6 | Till Nov 62023 | 2,060 | 19,4632024 | 286 | 5,0412025: 351 | 3,284States' statsPunjab | 3,284Uttar Pradesh | 1,321Madhya Pradesh | 1,107Rajasthan | 965Haryana | 206Delhi | 3PM 2.5 report City | Average | MaximumAmritsar | 141 | 193Bathinda | 136 | 323Jalandhar | 192 | 301Khanna | 124 | 263Ludhiana | 172 | 210Mandi Gobindgarh | 231 | 394Patiala | 124 | 133