Mumbai, Nov 20: Ahead of the civic polls in Maharashtra next year, the state government today announced setting up of a third party audit body to check whether Central and state funds released to municipal councils are used for developmental purposes.

Addressing a rally for upcoming local bodies polls at Ratnagiri, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the third party audit mechanism could be used to "unearth corruption" in the municipal councils.

"The government has focused its attention on providing drinking water, solid waste management, sewage management and street lights in municipal councils," he said.

He said his government has been providing substantial funds to civic bodies to carry out development works.

"It is mandatory upon the municipal councils to spend the funds and complete the works within the stipulated time.

Independent consultative bodies like Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) have been appointed for quality control checks on the works being executed by the civic bodies," Fadnavis said.

The third party audit mechanism will ensure transparency in municipal councils through aduit of money spent on civic works, he said.

The political message in the formation of the audit body is aimed at those civic bodies being ruled by parties like Shiv Sena, Congress, NCP, Peasants and Workers Party of India (PWPI) and others.

"Besides state government, the Centre has also given substantial amount to these civic bodies," he said.

212 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in the state are going to polls in four phases between November 27 and January 2017.