Chandigarh, May 27 -- The UT excise and taxation department sealed eight liquor vends over non-payment of licence fee on Monday.

According to officials, two sealed vends are located in Sector 9, besides one each in Sector 32-D, Sector 40, Sector 45, Manimajra, Daria and Mauli Jagran.

The total annual licence fee for these eight vends was Rs.67.64 crore. The total amount due was Rs.5.41 crore. With only Rs. 2.71 crore being paid, Rs.2.70 crore had remained unpaid in April. According to officials, after sealing, the licensees shall have to pay the balance dues, along with applicable interest at 1.5% per month calculated on a daily basis, to get their licences operational.

Earlier, the department had sealed 48 of the 96 liquor vends that ...