In 1945, he started his career as an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department of the then Mumbai State.
Impressed by this, the then Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. D. Jatti invited Balekundri to the state.
After returning to the state in 1959, Balekundri took charge of the inter-state river dispute issue and fought ably for Karnataka's legitimate rights, playing an essential role in the Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Krishna irrigation projects and constructions.
[1] The Karnataka government has honored him by instituting an award for engineering excellence in his name.
[2] A statue was also erected in 2006 at Alamatti in Balekundri's honor, and a road has been named after him in the state capital Bengaluru.