The government on Tuesday announced the selection of 14 candidate sites for dams to be newly built or renovated for flood and drought control, as well as for water supply. Environment Minister Kim Wan-sup unveiled the 14 streams nationwide where new dams will be constructed or existing ones will be redeveloped as part of the construction plan in response to global climate change. They include Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, Yanggu in Gangwon Province and Cheongyang in South Chungcheong Province, each of which will host a new multipurpose dam. Four other regions, including Hwasun in South Jeolla Province and Cheongdo in North Gyeongsang Province, will each host a water supply dam, while Gimcheon and Yecheon, both in North Gyeongsang Province, will each have a new flood control dam, according to the ministry. Five other regions -- Geoje, Uiryeong, Ulju, Suncheon and Gangjin -- will have their existing dams redeveloped into flood control dams. Each envisioned dam, once completed, will be capable of handlin g a single rainfall event of up to 220 millimeters, providing effective flood control, the ministry said. The construction will also provide an additional supply of 250 million tons of water, sufficient to meet the water needs of 2.2 million people. Starting next month, the ministry plans to hold hearings and briefings with residents of the candidate sites to obtain their consent, a step necessary for these construction plans. After that, the ministry will need to develop a basic construction plan, conduct feasibility studies and outline implementation plans, finalizing the size, purpose and location of the dams, the ministry noted. Source: Yonhap News Agency