Jaipur, May 11 -- Union culture and tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday announced that the Centre has released Rs.4,800 crore to Rajasthan to revive the stalled Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), which had slowed down in recent months due to ongoing investigations and lack of funds. Addressing a public hearing and night chaupal in Phalsund gram panchayat of Jaisalmer, Shekhawat said contractor payments had remained pending for a long period because of the probe, leading to halted work, but assured that there would now be no shortage of funds for the drinking water scheme. He said the central government had approved and transferred Rs.4,800 crore to Rajasthan to accelerate the Jal Jeevan Mission and added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended the mission till 2028 with an additional allocation of Rs.1 lakh crore for the scheme across the country. During the public hearing and night chaupal, Shekhawat heard grievances of local residents and directed officials of concerned departments to ensure quick and rule-based resolution of public complaints. Villagers welcomed the Union minister with flower showers, garlands and traditional greetings, while a large turnout reflected enthusiasm among rural residents. Focusing on the ongoing heatwave conditions in western Rajasthan, Shekhawat instructed public health engineering department officials to work in mission mode and ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in villages. He warned officials against negligence and said strict action would follow if people faced hardship in accessing water during the intense summer. The Union minister directed the district collector to ensure strict monitoring of drinking water transportation through tankers and stressed that poor families must receive free drinking water from public tanks. He also called for publication of a weekly tanker movement calendar so that residents of villages and remote hamlets are informed in advance about tanker supply schedules....