The comprehensive sewage treatment project proposed under the Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) in Kochi is expected to receive a fillip following a recent visit by a team of experts appointed by the Central government. The team visited the sites of the proposed sewage treatment plants (STPs) and the underground sewerage pipeline network a few days ago. The team is learnt to have observed that all the city’s canals were highly polluted, with blackish water and an obnoxious odour, a Kerala Water Authority (KWA) source said. “The living conditions are highly challenging because of the current level of pollution. We urgently need to renovate and clean the canals. Unless we provide an underground sewerage pipeline to manage the sewage generated by households and commercial establishments, we cannot clean the canals,” the official said. The five-member team also visited some of the polluted canals and localities in the city that lacked proper sewage management systems. “For instance, some households in Panampilly Nagar lack proper sewage management systems. While most households have septic tanks, …