Addressing the silver jubilee celebration of Madurai Hardware and Paint Merchants Association, he said that while department officials have orders not to enter shops for inspection, the Government would not be a silent spectator, if the traders did not follow suit.

Speaking further, the Minister mentioned that tax growth has come down from 20 per cent in 2006 to 1.5 per cent as on December last.

Though this was anticipated in view of the implementation value added tax (VAT) in the State, this decline could not continue, he added. The compensation from the Centre would only be for three years. The traders had assured the Government that they would Bill all their products, he recalled.