Brought in by GAIL as part of the Union Government's "anti-malaria campaign", the new technology has been developed by Sumitomo Chemicals of Japan and the nets will be available in the open market by this monsoon.

The nets, costing Rs. 200-250 apiece in the Indian markets, work on a simple principle, explained a GAIL official: "The insecticide used over the nets are released at a controlled rate and proves fatal for the mosquitoes. The net remains effective for at least five years.''

Officials also claim that they have already identified two local manufacturers who will be making the honeycomb designed bed net from a special long lasting resin. "These bed nets will be distributed by GAIL in select villages with the help of the State Governments, health departments and monitored for qualitative acceptance and evaluation by WHO,'' said the official.