A total of 1.24 million people had to move to different places because their homes were flooded by the dam . This number is about 1.5 % of the total population of Hubei Province ( 60.3 million ) and Chongqing City ( 31.44 million ) where the reservoir is located . As of June 2008 , China relocated 1.24 million residents , ending with Gaoyang in Hubei Province ) , about 1.5 % of the province 's 60.3 million and Chongqing City 's 31.44 million population .