KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Petroleum Workers’ Union (ANPWU) today lived up to its threat, shutting down all private petrol pumps in the Kathmandu Valley for an indefinite period. The closure comes in the wake of the Nepal Petroleum Dealers’ Association’s (NPDA) ‘failure to fulfil’ ANPWU’s 16-point charter of demands. The Maoist union’s stir has spread beyond the Kathmandu Valley as well. ANPWU members today picketed at all nine Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) depots across the nation for the fifth consecutive day. NOC depots are located in Amlekhgunj, Pokhara, Biratnagar, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Dipayal, Janakpur, Birtamod and Thankot. The fuel crisis is likely to deepen in the coming days. The All Nepal Trade Union Federation (ANTUF) — the workers’ front of the Maoists — today announced that it would lead the ongoing agitation. Shiva Prasad Pokharel, secretary, ANPWU, defended their belligerent move. “NPDA, the apex body of private petrol pumps, will be held responsible for the crisis. Had it met our demands, we’d not have gone ahead with our protest,” he argued. ANPWU’s demands include issuing appointment letter to the employees, paying government-prescribe minimum wages, overtime and life insurance cover. Saroj Pandey, president, NPDA, said that they were forced to close their outlets due to the union’s threat and depletion of stock. The organisations are yet to hold talks to resolve the crisis. “The Nepal Police and Nepali Army collected 12,000 litres of petrol and diesel each today. The situation is worsening by the day,” said Bhuwaneshwor Rajbhandari, in-charge, Thankot depot, NOC. Digambar Jha, executive director, NOC, maintained that the dispute was a “private affair between the petrol pump owners and their employees”. Jaya Mukunda Khanal, joint-secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the Ministry of Labour was doing its groundwork for a dialogue. “We’ll enforce the Essential Services’ Act if the talks fail to find an amicable solution,” he added.