A file photo of then Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu meeting his Karnataka counterpart S.M. Krishna in Bengaluru on September 20, 2003 to discuss sharing of water from Almatti dam. Also seen are K. Sree Hari (left), then Minister for Irrigation of Andhra Pradesh, and his Karnataka counterpart. H.K. Patil.
| Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash
Though former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna was accused by his opponents of focusing only on development of Bengaluru, his contribution to the development of the backward north Karnataka region cannot be undermined.
Mr. Krishna made the effort to assess the backwardness of north Karnataka by setting up a committee led by noted economist Dr. D. M. Nanjundappa to remove regional imbalances when he was the chief minister. This was, perhaps, the first major effort in Karnataka to systematically develop a backward region in a pragmatic manner.
S.M. Krishna (1932-2024) | A life in pictures
A picture of S.M. Krishna published in The Hindu on January 30, 1983. He was then part of the Congress-I from Mandya constitutency
Vetaran congress leader S M Krishna being greeted by his well wishers on his 83rd birthday at his residence.
Bill Gates, Chairman and Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Corporation (centre) arriving at Infosys Campus, Electronics City, with Narayana Murthy, Infosys (left) and Chief Minister of Karnataka Mr. S.M.Krishna.
SMK with Salman Khurshid
SM Krishna seen with Kannada actor Dr. Rajkumar, after being released by forest brigand Veerappan who had abducted him in 2002.
SM Krishna with M.K. Karunanidhi, then Tamil Chief Minister seen with R. Gopal, the publisher of Tamil journal ‘Nakkheeran’.
The Karnataka matinee idol, Dr. Rajkumar, greets the audience and fans after receiving the ‘Karnataka Ratna’, the highest State award, from the Governor of Karnataka, Mr. Khurshed Alam Khan in Bangalore on November 14, 1992. The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Mr. S. Bangarappa (right) and Assembly Speaker Mr. S.M. Krishna (ext. left) are also seen.
SM Krishna addressing a press conference as Chief Minister of Karnataka in Vidhana Soudha in January 2002.
SM Krishna, Mallikarjun Kharge and other ministers look at the map of the proposed Devanahalli International Airport in Bengaluru.
Former Chief Ministers S.M. Krishna, S. Bangarappa, N Dharam Singh and Mallikarjuna Kharge Opposition Leader in Legislative Assembly during Bharat Nirman Rally at MBA ground in Davangere on March 23, 2009.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minster SM Krishna greeting the crowd during a public meeting in Kolar in 2004.
S.M. Krishna inspecting the work progress at Vikasa Soudha in Bengaluru in 2004.
S.M. Krishna and vetaran tennis Player Vijay Amritraj at an event in KSLTA in Bengaluru.
S.M. Krishna, addressing the gathering at the 125th year celebration of ‘The Hindu’ at the Ambedkar Bhavan in Bangalore, on November 08, 2003. Also seen are (from left) Azim Premji, chairman, Wipro, N.Murali, the Joint Managing Director, ‘The Hindu’, N. Ram, the Editor-in-Chief, ‘The Hindu’, Jagadish Shettar, the opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly and U.R.Ananthamurthy, noted writer.
Pandit Jasraj, is being felicitated by S.M. Krishna, alongwith the violinist, L. Subramaniam, in Bangalore, on January 20, 2004.
Chief Minister S.M. Krishna and PWD Minister Dharam Singh inspecting the progress of work at Vidhana Soudha South Block in Bengaluru on August 4, 2003.
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar being awarded by Chief Minister S.M. Krishna at a inaugural function of Rajiv Gandhi Yuva Shakti Sangha in Bengaluru in August 2003.
President Droupadi Murmu presents Padma Vibhushan to former union minister S.M. Krishna during Padma Awards 2023 ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi.
Former Prime minister H D Devegowda consoling former chief minister S M Krishna and his family members, at his residence in Bengaluru after his son-in-law V.G. Sidartha went missing in Mangaluru.
Then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calls on SM Krishna during his tenure as External Affairs Minister in New Delhi on May 8, 2012.
President Barack Obama, left, stands with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, as Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna speaks during a U.S. India strategic dialogue reception at the Department of State in Washington on June 3, 2010.
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Another area where Mr. Krishna’s contribution is significant is irrigation development in north Karnataka.
He not only appointed H. K. Patil as irrigation minister, but also fully backed him in his efforts towards irrigation development in north Karnataka. This resulted in evolving schemes for the utilisation of Karnataka’s share of Krishna river water to a large extent. These efforts included completion of pending works related to the Almatti project, and those related to the Upper Krishna Project.
“Mr Krishna had earmarked about 37% of the budget to funds for irrigation development of Karnataka. Of this, more than 75% went to irrigation development in north Karnataka,” points out Mr. Patil, who is presently the Law Minister, while paying homage to the former CM in the legislative Assembly.
According to Mr. Patil, Krishna also made efforts to resolve the dispute between Karnataka and Goa over Mahadayi project through mediation. “He had asked me to get senior Congress leader Margaret Alva to talk to the then Goa Chief Minister to convince him about the need to allow Karnataka to go ahead with the Mahadayi project. Unfortunately, the mediation did not yield the desired result. Hence, we decided to go ahead with the Kalasa-Bandurinala concept,” Mr. Patil told the Assembly on December 10.
Published – December 10, 2024 03:17 pm IST
