NEW DELHI, May 12 (Xinhua) -- The local government in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday ordered the closure of 717 state-run liquor shops.

According to the Tamil Nadu government statement, these liquor shops operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation are the ones located within 500 meters of places of worship, educational institutions and bus stations.

The execution of the order has to be undertaken within two weeks.

Tamil Nadu is one of the highest alcohol-consuming states by volume in India.

Alcohol is completely banned in the Indian states of Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram. It is also partially banned in a few other states. ■