India, Sept. 4 -- Amid heightened tensions with Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty, India has built its first rock check dam across the Indus River at Upshi in Ladakh's Leh district, raising the water level by nearly 10 feet and opening up new irrigation possibilities for farming communities in the strategically important border region.

Built entirely using natural boulders and without cement, the project is aimed at improving irrigation for farmers who have long struggled to access sufficient water during the crucial spring sowing season.

40 million litres of water stored

The newly constructed check dam can store nearly 40 million litres of water. The accumulated water is being channelled into dry agricultural fields through the Ig...