Chandigarh, April 30 (IANS): With procurement process now in full swing in Punjab and Haryana, over 125 lakh tonnes of wheat has been procured in both food grain states so far, officials said here on Thursday.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Thursday that over 70.31 lakh tonnes of wheat had arrived in grain markets across the state.

Of this, 65.13 lakh tonnes had been procured from farmers by government agencies, he said.

Badal said that 110 lakh tonnes of wheat is likely to be procured during this year as compared to last year's procurement of 119.31 lakh tonnes.

The Punjab government has drawn flak from farmers and opposition parties, especially the Congress, for tardy procurement of wheat this year. Farmers, who had to suffer due to damage to crops due to unseasonal rains last month, have complained that their stocks were not being procured properly.

Punjab Congress legislators on Thursday held a protest outside the official residence of Badal ruing the Punjab government's apathy towards the farmers.

Badal, who arrived from New Delhi, went to the protest site of the Congress legislators and said that he was ready to listen to their demands.

In neighbouring Haryana, over 55.31 lakh tonnes of wheat has arrived out of which over 55.29 lakh tonnes has been purchased at minimum support price (MSP) by the procurement agencies, said a spokesman of the food and supplies department.

"The food and supplies department and other procurement agencies have paid Rs.6,077.33 crore to farmers for the purchased wheat till April 26," he said.

The spokesman said that over 54.22 lakh tonnes of wheat was procured during the corresponding period last year.