D.N. JAGTIANI AND S.G. JOSHI** Considerable amount of building activity is going on in and around SHILLONG. With the formation of the new State of MEGHALAYA increase in building activity for Civil construction is also expected. Works are undertaken by MES, State PWD, CPWD, P&T Department and other private agencies. There appears to be a need for a detailed study of the practices followed by different agencies in design and construction of buildings in the past and present and evolve suitable practice for future construction of buildings in this region. This paper aims at undertaking this study by collectiong and correlating data on the geological features, record of earthquakes and observed damages in the past, on the nature of buildings constructed, the practices followed currently and suggest suitable measures for safe and economical design and construction of buildings This paper covers the following aspects:- (a) Study of local geological features of the area in brief and the effects of light and heavy earth-quake tremors and necessity for further geological studies of the SHILLONG Plateau from seismic and other considerations. (b) Study of record of earth-quakes experienced in the past and damage/distress caused to the buildings. (c) Comparative study of different types of construction, practices adopted in the region and their behaviour during earthquakes with a view to arriving at a rational and economical (construction and design) practice for earthquake resistant structures. (d) Efforts have been made to recommend the type of design and construction to be adopted, building materials to be used and the various precautions to be observed. The economical aspects of the recommendations have been studied.